Designed in 1834 in Queenston, Upper Canada by John Latshaw Architect for Alexander Hamilton… the house was purchased by John Bright in 1932 who engaged the office of A.E.Nicholson to modify and modernize the house and reorganize the site. In 2002, Willowbank was purchased and the house saved from demolition by the “Friends of Willowbank”. In 2004, Willowbank received it’s National Historic Site designation, and VICTOR TARNOY ARCHITECT became the third architect in 170 years to provide architectural services for Willowbank. Central to the salvation of the Hamilton House, the Willowbank Estate and The School of Restoration Arts at Willowbank were Laura Dodson (OC & lead conservation activist in Niagara-on-the-Lake), and the Bright family, who were the major financial contributors to restore the Hamilton House and create a School of Restoration Arts.

From 2002 till 2004, little progress was made on the restoration of Willowbank or the School of Restoration Arts. The office of Victor Tarnoy Architect came on board when the Hamilton House had just been been condemned for public use, and the School had not progressed beyond an impressive sounding name. After completing the first stage of a renovation to restore the house and grounds for public use, Laura Dodson engaged Victor Tarnoy to create a School Of Restoration Arts study program that would also include the restoration of the Hamilton House and the Willowbank Estate. Victor Tarnoy’s vision was of a world-class institution that would train men and women to be key players in the preservation of cultural heritage. This concept was developed as a multi-year Diploma Program that trained Heritage Consultants to be expert in the knowledge of old structures, how they were built and how they were meant to perform.

The structure of the Program was built on three foundations; CLASSICAL EDUCATION - an in-depth training in the history & application methods of traditional building arts; COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY - students learn the skills of the building arts under the guidance of the most qualified instructors, while participating in actual projects on heritage properties (including the restoration of the Hamilton House); INDUSTRY CONTACT - at every level of the program, opportunities for apprenticeship and employment, future client contacts and projects are present.

The School opened in 2006, delivering to the 1st year full-time students, over 60 courses and workshops taught by a faculty comprised of masons, carpenters, wood carvers, heritage plasterers, architects, surveyors, engineers, historians and archaeologists. The School of Restoration Arts is now a world leader in the training of heritage consultants.