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A PR IL 2016 | 75 Redstone Supportive Living Facility RENDERINGS COURTESY FWBA ARCHITECTS Redstone Supportive Living Facility by SUSAN PEDERSON I t's said that the decision to move a loved one into a long-term care facility is as difficult as losing that loved one. Among the concerns over level of care and quality of life, is the wish that they will be safe, happy and most of all, that they have a sense of home. That was front of mind when Covenant Care set out to build the Redstone Supportive Living Facility in northeast Calgary. By early 2017, 250 residents living with moderate to late- stage dementia will call Redstone home. Not only will Redstone offer its residents a high level of safety and security, but the grace notes that shape everyday lives are being integrated into the community-centred building, bringing peace of mind for those who love them. "We took over a year to plan this building, looking for the most thoughtful way to proceed, while keeping in mind the complex needs of our residents and their families," says Peter O'Brien, director of capital innovation and development projects at Covenant Care. "There is an urgent need for this type of housing in our community, and the time in which we could have Redstone up and running was a key factor in determining how to approach the project," says O'Brien. That's why Covenant Care chose Armtec and its precast, pre- stressed system for the four-storey structure. The precast concrete construction will provide a safe and quiet environment to all its residents, while providing a durable building for its owner, the envelop of which came together in just four months. Kevin Juby, operations manager and principal at Manshield Construction explains: "Building a project of this magnitude in this short timeframe can only be done with a prefabricated system. The external insulated wall panels are key to the success of this build because they offer architectural design; a high performance building envelope; and structural load bearing capacity, all in one." Thanks to Peikko Group's DELTABEAM concrete connections, made of fibre reinforced polymers (instead of traditional steel beams) there are no thermal breaks in the walls. Inside, 64 precast stair stringers are installed throughout the building, and hollowcore planks are used for both the floor and roof. "This is the first job we did entirely of precast," adds Juby. "It works because it speaks to sustainability – environmentally; socially, by addressing seniors care, and economically because of the speed with which we were able to build it." Peter Schwind, general manager and principal of Manshield Construction, says, "In order for the system to work properly, we needed four to six months of preconstruction, and required the use of DELTABEAM for the system to be optimized. What this eliminated was a lot of heating and hoarding. It was a very smooth process." Ignacio Cariaga, sales director at Armtec adds that the success of the project was driven by the upfront integrated design process that was done early in the design phase with the owner and owner's representatives. "This process allowed our design team to identify and mitigate any constructability conflicts between Armtec Precast and other subtrades," says Cariaga. "Once design was complete, Armtec's capacity for quality prefabrication under a controlled environment and installation of the precast elements allowed for the 16-week installation schedule. This total precast construction method provides an innovative solution for continuing care needs by providing a fast, sustainable and resilient building; a solution that can also be used for schools, hotels, offices and the residential market." Alex Kelada, building services mechanical lead of MPE Engineering in Calgary, notes: "Redstone is basically a four-storey building that was supposed to be three storeys." This was due to the buildings proximity to the Calgary airport, where nearby buildings are restricted to three storeys. Because the floor-to-ceiling ratio had to be compressed, the width that would normally be 12 inches was compressed to eight inches because it was pre-stressed concrete." This made it tricky to install ductwork and other mechanical fixtures, but in the end, creative rethinking and planning of mechanical systems are proving successful. FWBA Architects (formerly Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects) was also happy to think outside the proverbial concrete box on this project. "We were cautious at first," explains Christopher Babits, principal. "But precast has a long proven history, and it was just a matter of sitting down with Armtec and understanding the limits and opportunities involved with this method of construction. The precast system meant being very precise on our design intent, and as opposed to a regular build, the system involves a high level of commitment sooner in the design process to a simplified rational plan, and a more standardized exterior." That meant creating architectural features and elements with form liners and concrete stains, for example. Seven different forms were required to produce 32 different sizes and styles of architectural panels. A penetrating concrete stain was used to achieve several different colours. The impact of large columns on the interior also needed to be considered. "We tried to have some fun with them, incorporating them as a design feature and minimizing their impact on spaces, by working with Armtec on a curved profile. The form liners and carpentry of the formwork built in the LOCATION 10 Redstone Place NE, Calgary, Alberta OWNER/DEVELOPER Covenant Care ARCHITECT FWBA Architects (formerly Ferrari Westwood Babits Architects) GENERAL CONTRACTOR Manshield Construction STRUCTURAL/MECHANICAL/ ELECTRICAL/CIVIL CONSULTANT MPE Engineering Ltd. LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT 02 Planning + Design PRECAST CONSULTANT/ PRODUCER/INSTALLER Armtec TOTAL SIZE 205,000 square feet TOTAL COST $63.5 million factory by Armtec were beautiful works of craftsmanship in their own right. The resultant panels are the legacy of that effort and once the stain was applied, those panels absolutely came alive." In fact, the whole exterior came alive in a way that blends seamlessly into the environment, according to O'Brien. The top layer is lighter than the rest, giving the illusion of a shorter building. "We are in a community and didn't want to look like a four-storey building. In addition, the building provides a nice sound barrier to the nearby roadway. The building itself is very quiet," explains O'Brien. Outside, a mindful approach to the landscape will be evident throughout, thanks to O2 Planning + Design. In one area, residents can care for their own garden plots, while in another, a scenic path discretely circles back to the building, allowing for safer outdoor excursions. "We have taken into account not only the residents' needs but also those of their families who are visiting, with a thoughtful approach to four distinct areas of landscape design, based on the level of cognitive impairment that the residents live with, and to ensure they can interact with the outdoors in a meaningful way," says Matt Williams, senior landscape architect at O2 Planning + Design. The generous diverse landscaping of edible and flowering gardens are also intended to become a community asset to the Redstone neighbourhood. "The Armtec team has been great to work with and very forward thinking," says Babits. "From a process perspective, as the architect reviewing formwork at their factory, its been a fascinating educational process." Cariaga is eager to educate a wider audience about the efficiency of precast, adding, "We want people to understand that you really can make a beautiful building out of concrete." A 11:25 AM 11:03 AM

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