Darling Home for Kids
Green agenda helps the chronically ill
The Darling Home for Kids provides high quality respite and palliative care services for families with children who are medically fragile and technology dependent, many of whom suffer from progressive or terminal illnesses. The building sits amid 31 hectares of woodland, among the rolling hills of the Niagara escarpment.
The project began as a dream for a small group of dedicated individuals whose vision was to provide hospice and respite care for children in a residential-type setting. Phase 1 began ten years ago and included the demolition of an existing dwelling, and construction of a 700sq.m facility which accommodated four respite care beds and two palliative suites.
With Phase 2 completed in 2009, the 1450sq.m facility now provides nine respite beds and three palliative care beds, along with a kitchen, dining, living and activity rooms, a hydrotherapy pool, a multi-purpose therapy room and a snoezelen room. [Snoezelen rooms, pioneered in the Netherlands in the 1970s are specially designed to provide sensory stimulation, through the use of lights, music aromatherapy, textured and mirrored surfaces, and gentle breezes.]
It was the natural beauty of the site that provided the inspiration for the design of the facility, which takes a holistic approach that emphasizes the relationship between the building itself, the natural environment and the health and well-being of the occupants.
Conceived in a pre-LEED era, the decision to adopt sustainable design principles was made in response to the challenges of the site and its servicing. Water and energy conservation were driving forces in the design of the building and its systems. Water supply and treatment is a closed loop system: water is provided by an on-site well and then treated with a sophisticated filtration system to make it potable. The well also supplies two 50,000 litre tanks used for the fire suppression system. The sewage treatment system was specifically designed to accommodate the needs of medical patients while ensuring no impact to the natural environment.
The site has only single phase power, adequate for a residence but not sufficient to operate complex medical equipment. Accordingly, the building and its systems were designed to the highest level of energy efficiency to conserve energy for medical equipment. Natural ventilation strategies were employed throughout the building to limit the energy demands associated with cooling loads. A solar chimney was utilized to induce air movement. Coupled with these efforts is a 4-zone forced air HVAC system. Daylighting is an integral component of the design, used both for its energy conserving value and to inform and connect users to their surroundings. Passive solar design was used in a similar way.
Due to the sensitive nature of the children, all building materials were carefully chosen for their environmental attributes. It was of utmost importance that the selection of materials did not contribute to indoor air pollution. This criterion was carefully balanced with the need to meet the necessary medical standards, the clients wish for a residential atmosphere, and the design team’s desire to utilize local and regional products and materials.
The building employs typical residential construction techniques, including wood frame structure, local stone and brick cladding, wood siding and local water-based spray foam insulation. Interior materials include epoxy terrazzo floors [for medical reasons], low-VOC paints and stains, formaldehyde-free millwork and cabinetry.
The facility was designed to provide all of the care and functions typically found in a specialized institutional setting, but to offer them in an atmosphere as close as possible to that of a home environment. As such, the large kitchen and living room with fireplace are the main focal points of the complex, with wings radiating from these primary areas to engage the surrounding landscape. A key design strategy was to allow the children to be wheeled out onto the various outdoor porches and terraces in their medical beds so that they may experience the natural environment - the warmth of the sunlight and a gentle breeze on their skin. Close to the building are a variety of wheelchair accessible play areas, forest trails and a pond.
This project was made possible by the generous donations of time and material from numerous trades and suppliers within the construction industry over the various phases of the project, thanks to the efforts spearheaded by PCL Constructors Inc. and the Construction Committee of The Cedarbrook Society. It was outstanding to see the entire construction industry band together for a great cause.
Antonio Santini, OAA, LEED AP, MEDes is one of the founding principals of Red Studio Inc. Architects.
More information: www.darlinghomeforkids.ca
Credits
- Client The Cedarbrook Society
- Architect Red Studio Inc. Architects
- Structural Engineer Kurkjian Engineering
- Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Stantec Consulting
- Sewage System Design David Greenfield Engineering
- General Contractor PCL Constructors Inc.
- Photography Dennis Ng
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