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by LAURIE JONES FEBRUA RY 2019 | 47 Chartwell Carlton Retirement Residence RENDERING COURTESY CHP ARCHITECTS Chartwell Carlton Retirement Residence I n the last decade, many independent retirement residence developers have upped their game to create homey, inclusive, and vibrant lifestyle environments with a concierge. Such is the case with the Chartwell Carlton Retirement Residence in central Burnaby, B.C. Opening by the spring of 2019, the six-storey, 105-suite boutique-style res- idence was designed with a variety of options for seniors. "Our average age is 81, but we do have some younger resi- dents," says Teresa Fritsch, senior VP, real estate and investment. "They come to live with us because they don't want to be bothered with ongoing home maintenance and domestic responsibil- ities. They like the sense of camaraderie and friendship with other residents. The Chartwell Carlton Retirement Residence is next to the Chartwell Carlton Care Residence, so if residents have friends or family members that require extra help, they can potentially live side-by-side in the two buildings." The well-appointed suites are avail- able in studio, one- and two-bedroom layouts. All suites have kitchens and some units include in-suite laundry, or residents can use laundry facilities on each floor. The Carlton suites offer an abundance of natural light, and outdoor spaces include three terraces on the sec- ond, fifth and sixth floors, with an outlet on level two for a gas barbecue. "The rooftop patio gives residents a great view of the North Shore Mountains, in addition to east and south views," she says. "Benches are set up on the terraces and outside of the building for people to rest on their walks, or just to enjoy the natural surroundings." Inside the complex, a media room offers a large television for watching movies, but it is a flex space so it can be used as a chapel for faith-based and other activities. Additional amenities for the residents include a library and games lounge, billiards table, computer area, a spa, scooter room, demonstra- tion kitchen and a hair salon. The pet-friendly units are based on a monthly rental so people are not locked into purchasing their suites, and meals, housekeeping, and recreation activities are included. The upscale, open seating dining facilities are another draw for people considering a lifestyle change to retire- ment living with a bar lounge, bistro, and central dining room options. "Our food service team makes a variety of delicious foods for the residents," says Fritsch. "Two meals a day from an à la carte menu are included, and dietary needs and preferences are taken into consideration." A private dining room is available for special celebrations and meals with family or friends. Other amenities to ensure com- fortable living for seniors include bathrooms with grab bars, individual thermostats, and a personal emer- gency response system. To ensure the interior exuded a welcoming feel, Lisa Janzen at Key Concepts Interior Design chose invit- ing colours and finishes to "create a place where the residents would feel at home. This was also important in the common spaces, which are an exten- sion of the resident's personal spaces," says Janzen. "The design is both classic and time- less. We wanted to ensure our clients feel relaxed and comfortable in their environment, while also keeping a fresh feel in the space. It was extremely important for us to design with the end-user in mind – understanding their needs, wants, and emotions, while creating spaces where they can feel relaxed and comfortable." Quality materials were chosen that are not only durable but look current and will stand the test of time. "For the furnishing, longevity, functionality, and ease-of-use for the residents were essen- tial components in our design choices, while still having the look and feel of res- idential furnishings," adds Janzen. In keeping with a West Coast theme, the Chartwell Carlson Retirement Residence includes a brick veneer facade, HardiePanel siding and a cedar porte cochère at the entrance of the building. "In terms of design, we went off of what we did for the Carlton Care Residence building with the use of heavy timber and accent materials used to cre- ate the form and character of the other building," says Andy Sidhu, technologist, CHP Architects. "The amenity spaces, both inside and out, speak for them- selves. The exterior decks are crucial because the site is so small that there is not a lot of outdoor space to enjoy." In the early stages of construction, the team had challenges with the site due to clay, but in the end found a suit- able location for the main floor and how it would work with the adjacent building. "Because of the tight location, stag- ing was another challenge," says Sidhu. "The crane was set in one place for a year because of the tight surroundings." Randy Regier, president, Preview Builders International Inc., notes they extended the urban trail started by the City of Burnaby that created a lot of accessibility and walkability from that site to other areas in Burnaby. "The building also has extensive glazing fea- tures including overhead canopies and sunscreens." He adds the underground parking facilities include a car wash bay and electric charging stations. "Because it is a seniors' facility, it had to be non-combustible structure made with a load bearing steel stud frame," says Rob Quiring, principal, IQ Engineering Ltd. "The floor joists are Hambro joists with concrete topping." When it came to the electri- cal components, high-efficiency and low-maintenance LED lighting was designed for the entire build- ing, including the residential suites. "The lighting design included focused considerations to the visual environ- ment for senior living and the aging population that are susceptible to low vision," says Steve Warde, associate at Jarvis Engineering. "The exterior light- ing design in and around the building property provides an illuminated connection from the property's path- ways to the city sidewalks on Gilmore Diversions and Canada Way." Warde adds that the electrical design provided stand-by/emergency power for all life safety systems, emer- gency lighting, the entire commercial kitchen and elevators; providing resi- dents with a safe environment in the event of a building power outage. Landscaping throughout the com- plex was well thought out, with a number of native plant species. "We also chose cultivars that would enhance the building in a decorative way, or break up heavy concrete sight- lines," says Scott Watson, landscape architect, CHP Architects. "We wanted to bring in a sense of peace and tranquility for people when they were in the area. Instead of just using straight hard concrete, we included pavers on the outdoor patios. Although it is hard surfacing, we brought in colour and texture that makes the open space a vibrant expe- rience. We added potted plants on the decks, and by mounding soil we were able to plant some small deciduous trees that will survive quite well until the roof needs to be replaced in 40 or 50 years." He adds that some of the street trees were already in place, but they provided more screening along Canada Way with the use of additional trees. Fritsch notes Chartwell invested significantly in municipal off-site work while building part of the urban trail. "We have a water feature for dogs and public seating along the pathway. We wanted to make an environmental con- tribution for active people, and their dogs, in Burnaby." A LOCATION 4110 Norfolk Street, Burnaby, B.C. OWNER/DEVELOPER Chartwell Seniors Housing ARCHITECT/LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT CHP Architects GENERAL CONTRACTOR Preview Builders International Inc. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT IQ Engineering Ltd. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Rocky Point Engineering Ltd. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT Jarvis Engineering Consultants Ltd. INTERIOR DESIGN Key Concepts Interior Design TOTAL SIZE 96,478 square feet TOTAL COST $27 million 8:23 AM 9:35 AM

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