Site C
Retirement Floor Converstion to LTC & Existing LTC Floor Renovation
The client approached Murphy Partners to conduct a Needs and Options Review (NOR) on its site. The existing 2-storey building holds a retirement home (42 units) in the lower level and an outdated LTC home (90 beds) in the upper level. The challenge was to design both floors to meet modern LTC standards while minimizing structural and plumbing transfers considering the existing discrepancies between floors. Our analysis found the following MLTC and OBC non-compliances in the existing building:
Existing LTC ensuite washrooms do not provide enough space for wheelchair-turning circles.
Doors are not barrier-free accessible.
Two dining rooms serves all 3 existing LTC RHAs. Dining area is not sufficient.
Some RHAs must be accessed through another RHA which is not allowed by the MLTC.
Bathing facilities are inadequately sized.
Insufficient lounge and activity space in some of the RHAs.
Utility rooms, janitor closets, and mobile floor lifts storage rooms are not sufficient in existing RHAs.
The above issues are more severe in the retirement home lower level.
The retirement home lower level is half buried which explains the lower number of units.
The client must renovate the facility to meet current MLTC standards and convert the retirement home to LTC.
Murphy Partners provided a draft and followed up with a second draft after a discussion with the client:
62 beds in the lower floor and 80 beds in the upper floor for a total of 142 units. Each floor holds 2 RHAs. MPI maximized the number of private beds in the design.
Modern bathing facilities in each RHA.
Modern dining that meet the MLTC area requirements as well as serveries proposed in each RHA. A new service elevator proposed to connect one of the RHAs to the kitchen in the lower level.
Lounge and Activity rooms that meet the MLTC minimum area requirements.
Utility, housekeeping, and mobile lifts storage appropriately provided in each RHA.
The retirement home floor matches the upper floor except where it is buried and windows cannot be provided for additional units. We paid special attention to avoid mechanical and structural transfers where possible.
Murphy Partners provided floor plans, a full MLTC requirements analysis, and statistics for the number and type of beds in each RHA.