A historic building in downtown Brockville has received provincial recognition for its transformation into a boutique hotel, with 48 King West Hotel named one of nine projects selected for the Ontario Association of Architects’ (OAA) 2026 Queen’s Park Picks.

The hotel, located at 48 King St. West, was nominated by Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes MPP Steve Clark as a prime local example of the role thoughtful design can play in revitalizing existing buildings while maintaining architectural heritage.

Now in its 11th year, the OAA’s annual Queen’s Park Picks program invites MPPs to nominate buildings in their ridings that highlight and celebrate local architectural heritage.

The 2026 program, which had a theme of Collaboration Powering Innovation, received 41 submissions from 28 different MPPs representing all political parties. On Nov. 3, the OAA shared that a jury of architects then selected nine final projects, including the Brockville hotel.

Originally constructed in 1922 as a Bank of Toronto branch by architects W. and W.R.L. Blackwell, the building was converted into a seven-suite boutique hotel in 2019, the OAA notes. The renovation was led by architect Cora Lia Taraciuk, designer Brandy Gould and developer Rob Thompson.

“The recognition is a tribute to the vision and dedication of Rob Thompson and Brandy Gould, whose outstanding restoration of this historic building has helped preserve Brockville’s architectural heritage while contributing to the downtown’s vitality.” MPP Clark told Brockvilleist. “I was proud to nominate 48 King West and congratulate Rob and Brandy on this well-deserved provincial honour.”

OAA President Lara McKendrick told Brockvilleist that narrowing down the 41 submissions to a final nine took two different stages.