 No More Youth on the Street
Description:
John MacDonald Architect undertook relocation and revitalization study for a Waterloo Region non-profit community agency, oneROOF Youth Services. The organization provides shelter and vital services for youth who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk. JMA’s relationship with the issues and this client began with probono services to explore their program needs for best support and a relocation of their operation. The work we’ve accomplished to date has included exploration of the services and partnership model, location search, evaluation of options, facility review and creative problem solving for the organization and our community. We met with oneROOF staff and facilitated a needs assessment and review of the existing operation, created a ‘shopping list’ of desires and necessities, and diagramed relationships and connections. The resulting reporting allowed oneROOF to better understand the strengths and challenges of potential new locations, and the opportunities for future service offerings, partnerships, and facilities.
Our Role:
Site evaluations, design, masterplanning, heritage design.
Achievements:
John MacDonald was able to assist the organization in procuring a suitable new location on two contiguous properties, one of which contains the historic home of one of Kitchener’s former mayors. We carefully organized the functional program for best fit with the existing buildings and properties, and to meet the challenging timelines for relocation caused by the sale of their existing property.
“John, I can’t thank you and your capable staff enough for the assistance you have provided to oneROOF Youth Services and our youth at risk. Our CORE project has gone from possibility to reality. We have laid a solid basis for further phases that will, with the help of our partners, make an even greater impact in our community. Our sale of the existing and cramped Queen Street facility put us under major pressure, perhaps without full realization of the complexities we might face. We knew our community can step forward, and you have done so. You’ve provided excellent leadership for the project, working with great respect for ourselves and our youth. You have found us our new location, helped negotiate the acquisition, taken on the hurdles associated with zoning and site plan approval, and led the transformation of Mayor McIntosh’s historic home into the first step of our new journey. Your attention to detail has given me the clarity to make the decisions we’ve needed to make, and I look forward to our next phases.
Oh, and the youth have let me know that the lighting you personally installed in the rear garden makes it a magical place for them. No kidding, that’s what they said! Magical.”
— Sandy Dietrich-Bell
C.A.O., oneROOF Youth Services
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Project Data
Adaptive Reuse
Alteration / Addition
Construction Management
Not-for-Profit
Kitchener, Ontario
Construction Ongoing
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