National Trust for Canada Top 10 Endangered Places, 2015

Designed by Guelph architect John Day, for local pharmacist Alexander Bain Petrie. This four-storey structure boasts an ornate façade of stamped galvanized iron with a large mortar and pestle pediment. One of only three documented buildings in the country erected prior to 1890 with a full sheet-metal façade.

In March 2015, a Joint Venture Agreement was created between ACO and Tyrcathlen Partners, the Petrie Building’s owners, to facilitate the building’s restoration for adaptive reuse. In 1882, A.B. Petrie made a bold statement in capping his impressive new drug store with a big, bold mortar and pestle, flanked by decorative scrolling and elaborate finials. The Top off the Petrie campaign will help restore one of the most interesting architectural features in downtown Guelph.

ACO and and Tyrcathlen Partners launched Top Off the Petrie, a $100,000 fundraising campaign to aid restoration that would include replacement of lost parts of its metal cladding.

Recognising the building’s significance and importance of this, President of Downtown Guelph Business Association, Chris Ahlers, offered to match the first $24,000 in community contributions. July 24, 2017, Top Off the Petrie won the $15,000 first place regional prize in the National Trust for Canada "This Place Matters" crowdfunding competition, small projects category, for raising $23,000. In 2019: the Petrie building is topped off and back in business with Brothers Brewing below, Our Boutique – The Modern Bride above; restoration of façade is complete: estimated cost, $375,000.