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A PR IL 2019 | 75 Points West Living Cochrane RENDERING COURTESY RPK ARCHITECTS LTD. Points West Living Cochrane by ROBIN BRUNET C hanging standards have prompted developers to take a different approach to building seniors' residences, with their aim being to provide safety and security while making the facilities far less institu- tionalized in appearance. It's a tough balancing act, but one that Points West Living, RPK Architects Ltd., and Premier Building Solutions Ltd., have achieved via the first phase of the new Points West Living Cochrane continuing care cen- tre in Cochrane, Alberta. PWL Cochrane is an aging-in-place facility located on the south side of Cochrane. Phase One of the project consists of a main residential build- ing, four storeys tall, containing 122 studio (including 26 memory care resi- dences), and one-bedroom Designated Supportive Living (DSL) suites. Premier co-founder Chuck Roberts says of PWL Cochrane, "While the project was designed to resemble a modern, architecturally pleasing com- munity, its complexity was not unlike that of a hospital, for example requir- ing greater care of the heating, cooling, and ventilation components than in a standard housing development." Premier project manager Josef Doove adds, "All of this had to be delivered on a fixed budget, so a lot of creative design and organization was undertaken." RPK has worked on many seniors facilities, including Points West Living Red Deer (which Premier constructed), which was completed just as it turned its attention to Cochrane in 2016. "The Phase One building would be located on a site that abuts residential development on one side, small scale commercial on the other, and opens onto beautiful mountain views – so our job was to create an architecture that would transition smoothly between those elements," says RPK principal Jonathan Rockliff, adding that the non- combustible building would be located on the eastern side of the site to allow for future western expansion. RPK worked closely with the town of Cochrane to ensure development compliance and community consulta- tion. "We went through many design itinerations," says Rockliff. "While the site was zoned for an eight-storey building, we decided on four storeys." Special attention was paid to co-ordi- nate a shared road and services with an adjacent developer. RPK designed the main building to exude a western ambiance, with wood elements, columns, and beams allud- ing to this esthetic. Cementitious siding and panels along with a window cur- tain wall were chosen for the exterior, plus a light yellow brick that Rockliff points out "was reminiscent of a brick that used to be made in Cochrane – so this became our signature colour." RPK designed the main entrance with a looping drop off area and canopy on the western edge of the main building. "When the second phase is developed, the entrance will appear central," explains Rockliff. The entrance leads to a multi-pur- pose room with a café, and the core of the building is anchored by a central staircase with a green living wall and dining room. Construction commenced in October of 2016. "It was a fairly tight site, and since the basement portion of the facility was located in the middle of site access, it had to be finished last," says Roberts. Doove adds, "soil conditions were acceptable, but we encountered struc- tural considerations: overcuts of the foundation creating bearing point that we had to work through." The build- ing consisted of a concrete foundation with heavy gauge load bearing steel studs and cast-in-place Hambro deck- ing with open web steel joists. Rob Campbell, engineering opera- tions manager for Vital Engineering, says, "The building required more fresh air intake than a standard facil- ity, which meant a larger mechanical system and ductwork. We provided a heat recovery ventilation system that would preheat a lot of the incoming air. "We also provided newer technol- ogy, in the form of variable refrigerant flow, for localized heating and cooling in common areas. This is energy effi- cient in that it shuttles heat within a common loop instead of drawing air from an outside source like a boiler. Additionally, we outfitted the facility with a combined heat power co-gen unit as the primary power source and emergency backup generator." As of February 2019, Phase One was 95 percent complete; Phase Two will see an Independent Supportive Living com- plex built on the west end of the central building, and a third phase will entail the creation of a stand-alone indepen- dent living condominium complex. Rockliff concludes, "We think this building is a great addition to the neighbourhood," and Roberts agrees: "It's a very nice facility created at a rea- sonable cost that will serve the client well for many years to come." A LOCATION 60 Fireside Gate, Cochrane, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER Points West Living Cochrane Inc. / Connecting Care (2000) Inc. ARCHITECT RPK Architects Ltd. GENERAL CONTRACTOR Premier Building Solutions Ltd. STRUCTURAL CONSULTANT Siefken Engineering Ltd. MECHANICAL CONSULTANT Vital Engineering Corp. ELECTRICAL CONSULTANT TWS Engineering Ltd. CIVIL CONSULTANT Civil Engineering Solutions TOTAL SIZE (PHASE ONE) 113,828 square feet TOTAL COST $40 million 11:23 AM

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