The renovation and extension to Casey House, a specialised healthcare facility for individuals with HIV/AIDS, meets the needs of patients and health care providers in a setting designed to evoke the experience and comforts of home. With a new Day Health Program servicing a roster of 200 registered clients and 14 new inpatient rooms, the 59,000 square foot addition brings much needed space and modernized amenities to augment and renovate the heritage-designated Victorian mansion. The new structure embraces the existing building, preserving its qualities and organizing day-to-day user experience around a new landscaped central garden court.
This open space is a fundamental part of the design and is the heart of the facility, visible from every corridor and each of the inpatient rooms. Through operable windows that allow for fresh air and cross-ventilation, every inpatient enjoys an unobstructed garden view from their bed. The windows flood patient spaces with natural light and provide a connection to the outside world, making the hospital feel like a home. Sustainable design elements include high efficiency tinted glass, rainwater collection cisterns and locally sourced materials. The plan received a Canadian Architect Magazine’s 2013 Award of Excellence for its high design and respect for client welfare.