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A place to call home.
The YW Sheriff King Home provides a place of refuge for women and their families. The creation of this shelter involved two major components; the three-storey residential building for long-term tenants and the three-storey women’s shelter for short-term stays. Within these buildings, services like programming, counselling, and childcare are offered. Smith + Andersen provided electrical, communications, and audio-visual services for the project.
A place to call home.
The YW Sheriff King Home provides a place of refuge for women and their families. The creation of this shelter involved two major components; the three-storey residential building for long-term tenants and the three-storey women’s shelter for short-term stays. Within these buildings, services like programming, counselling, and childcare are offered. Smith + Andersen provided electrical, communications, and audio-visual services for the project.
Time is of the essence.
Maintaining project timelines was a major focus for the project to stay on track to meet federal funding deadlines, in line with the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI), The first phase of the project was the residential building, intended for long-term occupancy, completed in 2022. In 2023, the shelter (short-term occupancy and programming spaces) will be completed completed in 2023.
Accessible options.
The residential building features units that range from two to three bedrooms, with generously-sized accommodations to suit varying family sizes. Additionally, nearly 20 per cent of these are accessible. The design accommodates a variety of family sizes and even pets are welcome!
Brightening up the space.
Given the needs of the building’s clientele, we also wanted to prioritize creating a safe environment by designing spaces that were well-lit and secure both inside as well as outside. We worked extensively with the landscape architect to create designs in line with a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach, frequently examining site lines and visibility across the property with the landscape architect.
Safety first.
One of the main operational requirements of the building was to make sure that the fire alarm and communication systems between both buildings were connected with fibre. Our designers worked closely with an external IT consultant to coordinate the communication services and maximize safety. As a result, the building has the capacity to remain operational in the event of an emergency.
