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The Leo Wertman Residence by Laurie Jones courtesy LegAcy senior Living – Leo WertmAn residence L ive Your Own Legacy" is the motto for one of Vancouver's newest and most luxurious senior residences. The Leo Wertman Residence, located on 41st Avenue in Vancouver, is a flagship building for Legacy Senior Living. Named in honour of the late Leo Wertman, a World War II partisan resis- tance hero and real-estate developer in Vancouver since 1961, the residence is a six-storey, boutique hotel-style com- plex that features a two-storey porte- cochère at the entrance with white Calacatta marble floors in the lobby and a 24-hour concierge. "The Leo Wertman Residence for seniors was designed to be a premiere facility," says Joe Wertman, president of Wertman Development Corporation and son of Leo Wertman. "Our marketing shows that more couples are moving to retirement residences, so of the 92 units we have 52 one-bedroom suites and the rest are one bedroom and den and two bedrooms, plus one guest suite. We didn't spare any expenses on finish and design and our IT department worked with top-notch security providers to create a state -of-the-art electronics sys- tem that offers the latest in technology." One special item is a key fob that allows automatic entry for residents into their room via a proximity sensor. This device also indicates their location on site, with their permission, for safety measures in case of an emergency. Built to LEED Silver standards, The Leo Wertman Residence features spec- tacular views of the City of Vancouver and the North Shore mountains. "When senior living complexes started they were designed primarily with studio units that included the bed, but the facil- ities were more healthcare oriented," says Carol Omstead, managing director, Legacy Senior Living. "In the past, peo- ple only went to residences when they needed to go, or needed some help. The whole concept has changed significantly to ref lect what independent seniors want. This includes accommodation that would rival what they would have in the community and all of the things that make life easier for them." Situated along the Cambie Corridor, the building site was acquired before the Canada Line rapid transit project began in 2005. "At that time, the normal redevelopment from residential sites would have had a maximum of three storeys in townhouse format," says Stu Lyon, principal with GBL Architects Inc. "This is quite a leap, but a logical one given the proximity to the transit line. The six-storey height of the building was anticipated by the city planners, which is the height secured along the street now." The complex has more in-suite fea- tures than a typical retirement resi- dence, such as a convection oven and cooktop plus full refrigerator, but this is part of transitioning for wealthier seniors. Lyon explains, "They still like the idea of being able to prepare a meal for themselves or have a family mem- ber or guests come over for dinner. The kitchens are compact, but they are com- plete and efficient." Lyon says his client's objective was to create a comfortable option for seniors living in the community who want a higher class lifestyle. "This is not a huge portion of the population, but is a very real segment that is looking for this type of accommodation." Adding to the ambi- ance are generous ceiling heights of 10 to 12 feet in the ground floor common areas. "One of our objectives was to have windows in the corridor so you can see outside. That extends all the way up the building." Walter Downey, general manager at Legacy Senior Living, brings the experi- ence of opening seven other retirement residences and says there is no other facility in Vancouver, if not Canada, that would match the Leo Wertman model. "Everything is top-of-the-line with custom furniture and original artwork in the hallways. Our library/ games room has a beautiful fireplace and bookshelves all the way around the room, and our theatre has plush leather seating with cup holders and trays. This building has all of the amenities that any senior would want and then some, and most are on the main floor, which is important for those who may have mobility issues." Downey adds that the Sky Lounge on the sixth floor has a pool table, two 80-inch flat screen TVs and a wet bar. Outside, there is a patio with a gas-oper- ated fire pit. The dining options cross both indoors and out, with healthy gour- met meals prepared by chef Rob Cleland, formerly from the Empress Hotel in Vic- toria, B.C. Interior designer Christina James from Hodgson Design Associates says fabric colour choices maintain a neutral palette with greys, blacks, whites and accents of light teals or blue shades. "We chose European white oak for the wood- work which is a light, natural colour and balances well with the other colours in fabrics and flooring," she says. "Custom coloured Bocci pendant lighting can be seen from the lobby all the way to the second floor." ■ " Location 611 West 41st Ave, Vancouver, B.C. owner/DeveLoper Legacy Senior Living / Wertman Development Corporation architect GBL Architects Inc. conStruction ManaGer Ventana Construction Corp. StructuraL conSuLtant John Bryson & Partners MechanicaL conSuLtant Jade West Engineering Co. Ltd. eLectricaL conSuLtant Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. interior DeSiGn Hodgson Design Associates totaL area 86,000 square feet totaL coSt $22 million oCTober 2014 /89 The Leo Wertman residence Download the free Award magazine iPad app through the iTunes store today.

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