HAROLD AND GRACE BAKER CENTRE
TORONTO, ONTARIO
The Baker Centre is a Nursing Home and Retirement Residence constructed in the 1970s in the former City of York. Central Park Lodges was the operator on behalf of the nonprofit Board of Directors.
The firm was retained to create 64 new Long Term Care beds in two Residential Home Units that would be fully compliant with current MOHLTC standards. The assignment included the planning, design and construction documents for a total renovation of the facility including the single storey A and C wings which housed the LTC beds and the 7 storey B wing containing 110 assisted living suites plus the Central Kitchen, Dining and Laundry services.
Addition of 64 new LTC beds over two single storey wings of a 120 bed C Level facility with extensive retrofitting of the existing structure to upgrade fire and life safety systems while addressing new MOHLTC guidelines. Expansion of existing ground level dining and food service operations was also undertaken. The assignment was complicated due to significant structural and soil bearing capacity limitations .
The assignment also involved the retrofit of four floors of assisted living suites housing 114 residents of varying needs and abilities. Upgraded Resident Bathing spas and satellite dining areas were major improvements .
Renovations of B wing were carried out on a floor by floor basis while the facility was occupied. Scope of work included adding sprinklers and upgrading the fire alarm system, removal of asbestos finishes, upgrading all suite interiors and common amenity areas and the creation of new therapeutic bathing spas and satellite dining areas on designated ADL floors.
A complete new commercial laundry was created and the existing food services area was substantially upgraded.
Follow on assignments included a total redesign of Administrative Services; design study to add an outpatient Phrenology Clinic; redesigned secure garden, landscape amenities and offsite parking.
“Working with Bob Murphy was a pleasure. He has a great knowledge of senior/nursing home requirements and is a “hands-on” problem solver. Information, shop drawings, etc. flowed on time with very few complications, which helped keep the project moving. As well he carried out very fair reviews of change orders.
We highly recommend A. Robert Murphy Architect Inc. to organizations contemplating the retrofit and renovation of their seniors’s facilities.”