 No More Youth on the Streets
A historic house becomes home for many
Description:John MacDonald Architect has been working closely with oneROOF Youth Services to establish a plan to create the oneROOF Youth Services CORE. The initial phase of this project was completed this Spring, with oneROOF moving into a newly renovated facility within two buildings in Kitchener. The expansive site of their new facility allows for extensive future growth opportunities in order to better serve the Youth in Waterloo Region. Designs for future phased development are presently on their way including a Phase 1 addition that incorporates further programming space and brings the emergency shelter component all within one building. A further Phase 2 addition will provide the Region with its first ever Youth Specific Supportive and Supported Housing units on a site with plenty of amenity space.
Our Role:Project leadership and full architectural services, including site evaluations, and master planning.
Achievements:JMA played an instrumental role in locating and purchasing an appropriate property, not only for oneROOF to continue its present level of services, but for the potential of future development.
We assisted with zoning and site plan approval process, with negotiations that removed hurdles that could have extended the timeline, addressing the urgent and sensitive nature of this project.
We achieved a design, to be implemented in stages, that allows this community resource to expand and increase its menu of services, while respecting the heritage nature of the original house on the site, the home of Kitchener’s first, and only, female mayor, Edith McIntosh.
Developed prototypes for supported and supportive housing that supports the process of learning to live with independence.
We worked to extremely tight timelines and cost constraints in the initial renovation and relocation stage.
“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... You’ve provided excellent leadership for the project, working with great respect for ourselves and our youth. 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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