Our 2023 renovation of 35 Arkledun Avenue in Hamilton, Ontario into Dorothy Day Place replaced most of the existing pipes and all the washroom fixtures, added kitchenettes, to an existing residence building, built in 1966 for seniors but then later used as a student residence. Dorothy Day Place is crisis and supportive, transitional housing for formerly homeless women, provided through Good Shepherd Non-Profit Homes.

The windows, fan-coil units, lighting and much of the wiring was replaced, the elevators were rebuilt. The whole building was sprinklered. Emergency power was installed new. The mechanical plant was extensively rebuilt in 2012-3; the renovation made a few required updates, notably to the building’s alarm systems. There were only minor changes to the interior layout, notably at the laundry, main entry, upper lounges and to create special suites that were more accessible or more soundproofed. The demising walls were updated, but most other interior walls were removed and rebuilt during an extensive asbestos and mould remediation. Most every surface was refinished.

Major funding for this project was designed to quickly repurpose old hotels and hostels into housing, in response to a great increase in homelessness brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Indeed after the demolition and abatements were completed, the project was built in about one year. We were able to do this by pre-purchasing many of the components and subdividing the contracts, which led to many complexities. In the end though about 80 women got a new and stylish place to call home.

The major consultant, Allen & Lea undertook the architecture, lighting, interior and furnishings design. Adel El-Hamzawi was our mechanical engineer, Arnold Mikolajewski of MPC Engineering was our electrical engineer.