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70 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Humber Meadows Long-Term Care Home HUMBER MEADOWS LONG-TERM CARE HOME by NATALIE BRUCKNER H umber Meadows Long-Term Care Home in Toronto's north- west catchment area is a testament to innovative design and compassionate care. Designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects, this facility offers 320 licensed long-stay beds, filling a crucial need in the com- munity for long-term care services. With a focus on creating a warm, home-like environment, Humber Meadows sets a new benchmark for long-term care facilities. In 2020 Montgomery Sisam Architects received an invitation to participate in a program aimed at providing long-term care homes for Humber River and Trillium Health hospitals. "As a national leader in the design of long-term care, we have an acute understanding of the shortage of beds and how it impacts communi- ties. The opportunity to be part of the solution and work for two of the most prestigious hospitals in the province made our decision to participate easy," says Santiago Kunzle, director and principal at Montgomery Sisam. EllisDon played a pivotal role in the realization of Humber Meadows Long- Term Care Home, breaking ground in December 2020. The project was exe- cuted under an Accelerated Build Pilot Program, designed to expedite the construction of long-term care facili- ties by harnessing hospital-owned land, streamlining procurement processes, and implementing modular construc- tion techniques. EllisDon's extensive experience in this field was instrumen- tal in delivering the project successfully. This innovative approach not only significantly reduced the construc- tion timeline but also ensured that the facility met modern design standards. When it comes to the architec- tural design of Humber Meadows Long-Term Care Home it is both a tri- umph of innovation and functionality. Situated on a tight site east of an exist- ing building, the architects opted for a compact dual courtyard configura- tion. This design not only maximizes the use of the available space but also enhances the resident and staff expe- rience. "This configuration shortens travel distances to and from any point in the home. It also provides a con- tinuous loop, without dead ends, for those residents that need to wander," says Kunzle. The aesthetics of the building are guided by a couple of key principles, as Kunzle explains: "The need to de- institutionalize the architectural language led us to use a contemporary residential expression, one that can be found in many residential condo- minium buildings across the city. The desire for the building to be seen as an integral part of the Humber River campus, plus the need for a durable finish at grade, led to the decision to clad the ground floor in brick." Creating a comfortable, home-like environment within a long-term care facility can be a complex challenge. To achieve this, spaces are orga- nized to emulate a village setting. The home offers varying degrees of pri- vacy, from large social spaces on the ground floor – akin to a town square – to more intimate lounges, dining areas in individual Resident Home Areas (RHAs), and private sanctuaries within residents' bedrooms. The metaphor of a meadow also played a central role in influencing the design, both inside and out. The choice of earthy materials like brick and wood LOCATION 2109 Finch Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario OWNER /DEVELOPER Humber River Hospital PROCUREMENT & PROJECT MANAGEMENT Infrastructure Ontario ARCHITECT Montgomery Sisam Architects GENER AL CONTR ACTOR EllisDon Corp. STRUCTUR AL /MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL /SECURIT Y/IT CONSULTANT exp Services Inc. HERITAGE CONSULTANT WalterFedy CLIENT DESIGN ADVOCATE/ CERTIF YING ARCHITECT HOK L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT Vertechs Design TOTAL COST Undisclosed grain metal panels for the exterior exudes a sense of residential com- fort and natural beauty. This theme extends to the interior, where the floor- ing materials and resident-accessible doors incorporate nature-inspired patterns and colours. The result is a welcoming and soothing environment that stands in stark contrast to the institutional feel often associated with long-term care facilities. Inside, selected materials with wood-like patterns maintain infec- tion prevention control while offering a high level of maintenance, resilience, and cleanability. The design thought- fully provides views to the outdoors and interior courtyards, using residential- looking light fixtures where possible and distributing spaces to encour- age socializing within the RHAs. This thoughtful approach ensures that the residents' experience is both comfort- able and aesthetically pleasing. While the project was originally conceived as a modular building, it was executed using conventional con- struction technologies. "The early explorations of modular did contrib- ute to a very efficient and disciplined design which benefitted its execu- tion using conventional means," says Kunzle. "We also maintained the main mechanical and electrical distribu- tion concept that was designed for the modular option with dedicated vertical shafts in the resident home areas. "The decision to not include a base- ment was in part influenced by the original modular construction con- cept, but also because it supported an accelerated construction sched- ule. Including a basement would have added months to the construction schedule. The lack of a basement also moves staff support areas, that are usually housed below grade, above grade, thereby significantly improv- ing the quality of those spaces." Today, Humber Meadows Long- Term Care Home is a place where residents can find comfort, care, and a sense of belonging. It offers a haven of compassion and protection for its residents, ensuring they can main- tain their independence and dignity. Sadie Friesner, executive director of Humber Meadows Long-Term Care Home, told the media: "Our goal with Humber Meadows has been to estab- lish a truly person-centred long-term care home where compassionate care and protecting the independence and dignity of every resident is at the heart of everything we do. We worked with government and industry partners to efficiently develop and action the plan for Humber Meadows and are thrilled to open our doors to our community. Ensuring our growing and aging pop- ulation has access to the care they need, close to home, is a top priority." In conclusion, Kunzle says: "We are grateful for the opportunity to con- tribute, in a modest way, to improving the supply of LTC beds in the commu- nity. We are proud that we were able to deliver a project that complements the Humber River Hospital campus and that positively contributes to the fabric of the surrounding community with a mid-rise building that has a decidedly residential character." A P H OTO G R A P H Y BY TO M R I D EO U T/CO U RT E S Y M O N TGO M ERY S I SA M A RC H I T EC T S

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