The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) headquarters was erected in 1920. The site was originally the Cedar Dale Works, making farm implements in the late 1800s. From 1898 to 1977, the site was home to Robson Leather, turning out hides for shoe and boot leather. During Doors Open, view historical information and artifacts or talk with CLOCA staff.

The former Alger Press Building was renovated and refurbished in 2010 by Ontario Tech University. Today, it is one of the university's key academic hubs. Charles Hall's features include extensive classroom spaces, lecture halls, research labs and common areas for students and faculty. It also houses the faculties of Social Science and Humanities, as well as the Education Library.

The Imperial Cotton Factory, built in 1900, ran as a factory until 1972. It has been repurposed as the largest creative hub in the Hamilton area — with studios for artists, artisans, musicians, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. Film and television productions, photographers and special events are also drawn here. This year's Door's Open Hamilton is also the Cotton Factory's 10th anniversary.

The East Flamborough Township Hall is a masterpiece of adaptive reuse. Almost all the original features of the original Georgian building were restored while the interior was sensitively reworked to provide comfortable office space for legal and financial offices (Brown Lawyers and Brown Financial Security respectively), while still displaying the architectural features of the original building.

The original Victorian residence was built in the 1800s and purchased by the club in 1952. Initially used for meetings and small gatherings, a large, balconied dance hall with stage was added to the rear of the building in 1955. The 1960 addition enclosed most of the original building and added some much-needed space for the growing club.

The elegant Edwardian gable and bay on Grant Avenue was transformed by Dan Lanois, Bob Lanois and Bob Doidge into the world-renowned recording venue, Grant Avenue Studio. The two-storey box bay façade with stained-glass windows has welcomed artists from Gordon Lightfoot and Stan Rogers to U2 and Johnny Cash. Check out this excellent example of adaptive reuse.

Hamilton Theatre Inc. is where aspiring stars get their training. Housed in a renovated Ontario Hydro building, it has been a training ground for individuals in the community to hone their passion for theatre and the arts. A perfect example of adaptive reuse, the theatre is bursting with musical magic, showcasing some of Broadway’s biggest hits right here in Hamilton.

The Huxley Building is a prominent property in the Waterdown Heritage Conservation District. Built in 1860, it has been a bank and now this popular used bookstore. The façade has been renovated to provide a retail space on the west side, and a picture window on the south façade. Most of the interior is original.

The Regent Theatre's façade, built in 1919 for Famous Players theatres, has Georgian architectural lines. One of the town's few remaining examples of this classically inspired style, the building reopened in 2010 as a lecture theatre for Ontario Tech University, as well as for community and cultural events. Still in use for film screenings, the site has been sensitively restored.

Stoney Creek’s Fox Theatre opened on October 20, 1952 and ran successfully until 1965, when it closed. In 1979, it was renovated and re-opened as the Royal Canadian Legion Battlefield Branch 622. This clever adaptive reuse has transformed a lovely mid-century modern theatre into a community space used today for a wide variety of functions. Enjoy musical performances both days.

The Bell Tower Place Community Hub and Stoney Creek United Church provide wonderful examples of both Edwardian and brutalist architecture working together side by side. The site has recently been redeveloped for community use and houses a renovated Masonic lodge (a former 1903 chapel) and a private school (Literacy and Mathematics Academy).

This delightful Stoney Creek restaurant is an original Renaissance-revival power station that provided power to the rail lines in the 1890s. It was intricately refurbished with historical tokens from across Canada to become the space you see today. It is a brilliant example of adaptive reuse, preserving its Florentine arches, scalloping and exaggerated keystones — indicative of the Renaissance revival style.

The Staircase has been a multi-purpose arts incubator for decades. Site of the former Hamilton Hydro Dundurn substation, the 1914 building combines large windows, decorative brick, a large overhanging cornice complete with dentil blocks, and an impressive beaux arts portico. Relay Coffee Roasters provides a friendly café atmosphere. The various performing spaces will have music this year.

The Theatrix Costume House is located behind an Edwardian gable front beside the fabric district on Ottawa Street. Theatrix has one of the largest collections of costumes available in North America, with over 50,000 professional-quality costumes and accessories from every century. During Doors Open, they are thrilled to showcase music-inspired costumes. The team will be delighted to dress up, too!

Westdale Village is an example of the early 20th-century Garden City Movement — with small, individually owned homes radiating out from a central business district. It is also the first planned community in Canada. Enjoy this guided tour and learn about the buildings that make this community. Then enjoy some live music on the patios near the village clock.

The historical Windfields Farm — birthplace of celebrated horse Northern Dancer — has been transformed into a sustainable agricultural research centre for the Ontario Tech University. This open-air laboratory pioneers innovative farming methods, conserves biodiversity and integrates renewable energy. Shuttle-bus access only: In celebration of Oshawa’s centennial, a shuttle bus will take you from Ontario Tech’s Campus Ice Centre to the site.

The third-oldest established community in Ontario, Ancaster Village has a unique history, much of which is preserved in built form. Located at the intersection of ancient native trails traversed by the earliest explorers and later visited by major figures in Canadian history, the village is home to many charming shops, restaurants, wedding venues, an inn and beautifully maintained historical buildings.

404 York Road offers visitors an eclectic mix of the arts along with the Lost Aviators Coffee Co. to refuel in between Doors Open stops along your itinerary. The building encompasses Ed Video — a charitable media arts centre — the Artworks Gallery Guelph and Azure Photography. Note: The Artworks Gallery Guelph’s will feature Adam Honsinger and Rain Bone performing original music.

After 153 years in the original town hall (now the Provincial Offences Court), Guelph's new city hall opened in 2009. Designed by Moriyama Teshima Architects, it combines the original firehall and the wall from the Provincial Winter Fair with modern green-building technologies. Step into the courtyard to see the old town bell and the centre-ice marker from the Memorial Gardens.

In 1935, the first Little Theatre opened at Guelph City Hall. In 1993, a fire forced the theatre out of the Salvation Army Hall on Dublin Street. In 1997, it moved into a former welding shop that now features a 288-seat raked auditorium, gracious lobby, rehearsal hall, workshop and dressing rooms.

This Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centre focuses on food safety and value-added food attributes to help foster a profitable and sustainable agri-food sector in Canada. During Doors Open, observe the many labs and learn from food scientists about research being conducted on food quality, food safety, enhanced health benefits and new areas of research on the horizon.

This building, previously a British Methodist Episcopal Church, was built in 1880 by former Black slaves using limestone quarried from Essex Street. In 2012, the Guelph Black Heritage Society purchased and renovated the site, which is now a cultural, historical and social centre. Experience the mosaic tile Underground Railway quilt that tells the story of Guelph’s Black community.

This Victorian Renaissance revival-style building served as Guelph’s town hall from 1856 to 2009 when the new city hall opened. Designed by William Thomas, it features carved stone, quarry stone quoins and a vermiculated key stone arch around the doors. In 2009, it was adapted as a courthouse, featuring original windows, crown mouldings, arched cells and a performance hall.

St. Thomas Christians can trace their origins to the arrival of St. Thomas on a lagoon in Malankara, India. Built in 2017, this 2,137-square-metre (23,000-square-foot) building contains a beautiful 750-seat sanctuary, seniors’ recreational room, youth room and spectacular chandeliers. Take a guided tour, browse exhibits to learn about faith, beliefs and rich cultural heritage, and stop by the food sale.