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LOCATION
Cowichan

CLIENT
M’akola Housing Society/BC Housing/VIHA

DESIGN / CONSTRUCTION
Completed

SITE SIZE
1.38 acres

BUILDING SIZE
4-story – 52,000 sq. ft.
50 units

TOTAL BUDGET
$14 million

DESIGN TEAM
Jackson Low, Chow Low Hammond Architects

CULTURAL & COMMUNITY IMPACT

  • Ceremony room is vented to allow smudging ceremonies
  • Totem pole feature in front entrance

Ts’i’ts’uwatul Lelum (pronounced Ts-ee-tsu-wa-tul Lay-lum), is Hul’qumi’num for “home for helping each other.”

This four-storey, 52,000 sq. ft. LEED Silver building is comprised of 50 self-contained apartment-style units, specifically designed for Elders and persons with disabilities. Support services are provided in a culturally-sensitive manner to those in need of assistance with the activities of daily living. It includes a dining room, craft room, theatre room, an Aboriginal ceremony room, and an outdoor gathering place.

The partnership involves a 49-year lease with Cowichan Tribes (building is located on their traditional territories) and a 35-year mortgage. It is serviced by Island Health, with BC Housing and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) playing key roles. An Aboriginal Elders’ Advisory Committee advised on the project, including on aspects of design, employment, cultural competency training, and operations.

The M’akola Development Services team oversaw all aspects of the project scope, including community consultations, need and demand study, feasibility analysis, design, financing, construction, and operations. M’akola’s work on this project was conducted in a thoughtful and collaborative manner, according to the clients’ needs. The project was completed on time and under budget.

  • 4-storey, 52,000 sq. ft.
  • Designed to LEED Silver Standard
  • 50 Units (4 –2 bedroom, 46 –1 bedroom)
  • 2 Elevators – monitored
  • Dining Room and Private Dining Room
  • Craft Room
  • Assisted Bathing
  • Outdoor Gathering Place
  • Laundry on Each Floor
  • On-Site Parking
  • Theatre Room
  • Lounge
  • 24x7x365 Emergency Response

EMERGENCY RESPONSE

  • 24 x 7 x 365 On-Site Staff
  • 24 x 7 x 365 Off-Site Redundancy

FIRE PROTECTION

  • Monitored Fire/Smoke Alarms in all Units and Common Areas
  • Fully Sprinklered Building
  • Fire Suppression Systems in Commercial Kitchen

SAFETY SYSTEMS

  • Audible and Visual Alerts to Emergency in each unit
  • Intercom System allowing two-way communications
  • Emergency Pendants provide emergency alert/response throughout building and surrounding site
  • Elevator Monitoring
  • Video Surveillance/Monitoring

PROVIDED SERVICES

  • 2 Meals Per Day
  • Recreation Coordination
  • Assisted Bathing
  • Weekly Linens (towels and sheets)
  • Emergency Response
  • Basic Utilities (heat, hot water, garbage, recycling)
  • Personal Care Services – as approved by VIHA
  • Assistance with Activities of Daily Living
  • Weekly Light-Housekeeping

SERVICES AT EXTRA COST

  • Telephone, Cablevision and Internet
  • Additional Personal Laundry
  • Utility Surcharge of $15.00 per month/unit
  • Private Dining Functions
  • 2 Elevators – monitored
  • Dining Room and Private Dining Room
  • Craft Room
  • Assisted Bathing
  • Outdoor Gathering Place
  • Laundry on each floor
  • On-Site Parking (limited)
  • Theatre Room
  • Lounge

Project Reference

Kevin Albers
Chief Executive Officer, M’akola Group of Societies

250.880.1666

Floor Plans

plan-a1UNIT FEATURES

  • Private lockable self-contained suite
  • Full bathroom with accessible full-width shower
  • Scooter storage in unit
  • Panic alarm
  • Resident selectable temperature controls
  • Operable windows
  • Full kitchen with fridge and stove
  • Cable and telephone hook-ups

plan-b1UNIT FEATURES

  • Private lockable self-contained suite
  • Full bathroom with accessible full-width shower
  • Scooter storage in unit
  • Panic alarm
  • Resident selectable temperature controls
  • Operable windows
  • Full kitchen with fridge and stove
  • Cable and telephone hook-ups

plan-c1UNIT FEATURES

  • Private lockable self-contained suites
  • Full bathroom with accessible full-width shower
  • Scooter storage in unit
  • Panic alarm
  • Resident selectable temperature controls
  • Operable windows
  • Full kitchen with fridge and stove
  • Cable and telephone hook-ups

Time Lapse Video