Development of a three-storey concrete long-term care facility with a below-grade parkade for PICS Society, a non-profit organization.

The 125-bed facility is designed to support the cultural, linguistic, social, and dietary needs of South Asian seniors, providing a welcoming and culturally responsive care environment. Through this, we learned how the cultural considerations impact the layout and requirements of the mechanical systems to be flexible and adapt to specific needs.

The project reflects the values of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, emphasizing dignity, inclusivity, community connection, and resident well-being.

Building was designed to CSA Z317 for certification by Fraser Health. The mechanical system consists of heat recovery air handling units with Variable Air Volume (VAV) boxes that provide residents with tempered 100% outdoor air. This system prioritizes resident comfort while reducing infection risk by eliminating the recirculation of air from resident rooms and supplying only fresh outdoor air. The inclusion of heat recovery technology significantly improves energy efficiency by capturing energy from exhaust air and transferring it to incoming outdoor air. As a result, the system lowers overall heating and cooling loads, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes operational costs while maintaining a high level of indoor air quality. In addition, the system allows residents to maintain individual control over heating and cooling in their resident rooms, further enhancing comfort and responsiveness to personal preferences.