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J U N E 2 0 2 1 | 85 Cambridge Manor Assisted Living Facility P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A N GUS M AC K ENZI E /CO U RT E SY S2 A RC H I T EC T U R E CAMBRIDGE MANOR ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY by ROBIN BRUNET O f all the institutions in North America, the type that has arguably experienced the most evolution of late is seniors' residences – and the new Cambridge Manor Assisted Living Facility is the latest example of moving away from a hospi- tal ambiance and integrating with the greater community. Cambridge Manor is being mar- keted as The Brenda Strafford Foundation's "innovative new seniors' wellness community" in Northwest Calgary's University District neighbourhood. Designed by S2 Architecture and constructed by Clark Builders, the four-storey, 240-unit facility allows for maximum flexibility and resident choice through its ser- vices and continuity of care, to ensure the ability to age in place. The 217,000-square-foot Cambridge Manor was also designed so that one wing would accommodate a centre for research on aging; also, the building is connected via a plus-30 pedway to Maple Independent Living by Truman, a 95-unit independent living facility. Mike Conroy, president and CEO of The Brenda Strafford Foundation Ltd., explains that his organization has a long affiliation with the University of Calgary, and because the University District was designed with a focus on multi-generational needs and aging- in-place, "It wanted a senior's living complex. So planning for the project began in 2015." A collaborative approach to devel- opment was enhanced when S2 Architecture introduced Brenda Strafford Foundation to Truman Homes, a long-time client. "We part- nered with them, and this resulted in Maple being developed at the same time on the same site," says Conroy. S2 facilitated extensive functional programming and site master plan- ning exercises to understand needs of residents and staff, spatial relation- ships, density, and massing. Principal Genevieve Giguere points out that this not only ensured the security of Cambridge's residents but also drastically reduced the institutionalized ambiance found in so many other seniors' facilities. She explains, "To create a more hospitality-focused ambiance we designed articulated ceilings, opened spaces up, and established visual connections such as between the servery and dining area of each floor. We were also mindful of clear sight- lines and fall protection, the latter of which included low lighting during evenings for wayfinding, design- ing millwork so that it could be easily grasped, and even avoiding dramatic contrast in floor patterns and avoid- ing colours that would be difficult for seniors to perceive." Such attention to detail was helped by Giguere and her colleagues donning weighted age suits and navigating spaces