An innovative building designed for seniors to age in place
In 2023, a study showed that seniors make up nearly 20% of Canada’s total population, a number that is expected to rise to 25% over the next 20 years*. The size and the diversity of this demographic - from independent, active younger seniors to older people requiring long-term health care - have led to a massive need for liveable, multifunctional residential solutions for seniors of all ages and abilities.
Recently, Englobe distinguished itself through its work on one such residence located in Edmonton, Alberta to the benefit of countless citizens – all while contributing to the overall revitalization of a downtown neighbourhood.
A micro-community in the heart of downtown
The new Glenora Park senior's residence was conceived as a cohesive, standalone community contained within a single facility. Built in a long-vacant lot in Edmonton's downtown district, the residence features 22 storeys of living space sitting atop a six-storey podium base.
Glenora Park residents enjoy a full range of accessible amenities including :
- a full-service gourmet dining room ;
- bistro and pub ;
- as well as a spa ;
- health treatment centre ;
- fitness room ;
- library ;
- theatre ;
- golf simulator ;
- and games room.
The facility offers an extensive range of options for both independent and assisted living, as well as many support services such as specialized memory care for dementia patients, and short- and long-term respite care.
A challenging mandate
Tasked with handling the project’s mechanical and electrical design and engineering, the Englobe team faced many challenges in executing this mandate. As the work took place during the pandemic, the construction team faced health-based restrictions as well as delays and shortages in obtaining needed materials.
In addition, project work was complicated by the facility’s multiple occupancy requirements and the constraints of building in an urban environment.
The facility was designed as an ‘age in place’ building where additional services were available as residents aged and requirements changed. While the tower was a residential building, the podium was a care facility with both assisted living and memory care facilities. Essentially, this project contained several different buildings with differing requirements.
says Robert Prybysh, Technical Director, Mechanical at Englobe.
However, the team’s greatest challenge was the complexity of the mechanical and electrical design. From this perspective, the facility had to deliver a homey feel in the building’s residential spaces while also respecting the specific requirements in both its common areas (pool, theatre, dining room) and its specialized medical spaces.
Demonstrating creativity and advanced skills
The Client’s vision was to provide universal accessibility, comfort and sustainability for seniors of all abilities and ages. Given these requirements, the project team was asked to implement an integrated building systems design that addressed the ventilation, heating and cooling, odour and humidity control, and acoustic needs of these drastically different spaces.
Designing this multifunctional mechanical and electrical system required advanced technical knowledge, detailed specifications, and tremendous creativity. Drawing on their combined skills, the team created a highly decentralized electrical and mechanical network that would permit the many different systems to perform both independently and as part of a larger, integrated global system.
For example, the design needed to provide appropriate heating and odour control for sensitive residents. It also had to integrate the specialty systems required for the saltwater pool, theater and memory care centre, as well as localized heating for residential, staff quarters, restaurant, and gym facilities, integrated large-scale cooling, air filtration, and ventilation.
Robert believes that strong coordination was the key to successfully executing this project.
While our team handled the mechanical and electrical scopes, there were delegated contractors working on specialty aspects such as the aquatics equipment and fire protection. Cooperation between our team as the lead disciplinary consultant, and the other delegated consultants, ensured that the different aspects were appropriately coordinated.
says Robert Prybysh, Technical Director, Mechanical at Englobe.
In addition, the Englobe team expertly integrated the facility into the community to ensure maximum livability for all residents. While the facility functions as a cohesive community under a single roof, it also meets LEED standards and provides residents with easy access to the river valley and nearby downtown amenities. The project was substantially completed in early 2023.
Recognized excellence
Today, the Glenora Park retirement facility delivers quality accommodations and reliable support services to seniors from across the region. Its opening has also created a new influx of people who are dining and shopping locally, thus breathing new life and delivering significant economic benefits to this downtown neighbourhood.
The excellence of Englobe’s complex, creative work on this facility was recently recognized with an Award of Merit in Building Engineering – Commercial by the Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA).