25%
50%
75%
100%
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