Strathcona Place Seniors Centre & Residence

Location: Edmonton, AB
Year: 2018
Status: Proposal

This integrated facility is designed to be a community hub with a seniors focus that is accessible and purpose-built to accommodate a wide range of community uses. The space planning has privileged informal social spaces that offer a welcoming and open environment of inclusion, accessibility, opportunity and growth.

This truly integrated facility seamlessly meshes the Activity and Outreach Centre into the existing building of the Strathcona Place Apartments. This design takes advantage of a significant portion of the existing structural shell of the tower, with Activity Centre spaces tucked along the west and south sides of the building. Housing uses are maintained along the east side of the building, anchored off a residential entrance located similar to its current location. Spaces that would be shared between the Housing and the Activity Centre are located between, allowing for flexible management of access that can accommodate differing operating schedules for each facility.

In order to address the limited ceiling height and column grid of the existing structure, larger multipurpose spaces fall outside the existing tower floor plate, resulting in a large Ground Floor plan. A clear circulation strategy (in the form of an “X”) helps to organize the spaces of the building while providing intuitive way-finding. Generous clerestory lighting is also included to bring ample daylight deep into the center of the deep floor plan. The more social, informal spaces of the building are located around the center of this “X” circulation plan, creating an active social heart and community hub for the neighborhood.