SERVICES & SPECIALTIES
01
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
02
SPECIALTIES
01
Prime Consultant
With most of our Architectural Design, we operate as the Prime Consultant, where we manage the project, integrating all disciplines together for the entire Project. As the Prime Consultant, we are the one point of contact for the Client, allowing them to rely on consistent guidance for projects with increased complexity, many stakeholders, or a client group with limited construction experience. We manage all sub-consultants such as engineers and specialists while also advocating on behalf of the client to the contractor.
02
Workshops, Planning & Programming
When our clients don’t know what they are looking for in space, we can help define the spatial requirements of activities, also known as the Functional Program. We fine-tune our method based on the project’s timeline and stakeholder group. In the past, this has included leading design charettes, user group workshops, or public meetings. Workshops allow a Client to fully communicate and realize their vision through our guidance and experience.
03
Feasibility & Preliminary Design
Our years of experience help us quickly and efficiently synthesize your vision for design. Typically, our clients use these documents for funding applications, presentations, or to determine whether the project is feasible and worth pursuing. This can involve explorations of site conditions, accessibility throughout the design, reviews of concepts against local and national building code requirements, zoning by-laws, climate considerations, as well as sun and wind studies of massing models.
04
Interior Design
We can provide a range of services from a simple office furniture layout to envisioning a complete interior design concept that reinforces a company brand or creates the right mood for a space. We explore the latest developments in the industry to suit the Project, consider how color affects the user psychologically, develop aesthetic schemes so all elements work holistically, and utilizing visual technologies so that the Client can envision the final results at early stages in the process. We can also specify manufactured furniture or design custom furniture to complete the design.
05
Renovations & Upgrades
We help buildings grow with our clients. You may need to renovate to meet universal accessibility or fire and life safety requirements, change a building’s function, upgrade the envelope to fix leaks, or add insulation to bring a building to a more modern and sustainable standard. Renovation and Upgrade work is a science unto itself with its own set of challenges and unique solutions.
01
Long Term Care and Age In Place Design
With a profound understanding of the unique needs and challenges associated with the aging population, our team is well experienced in creating environments that prioritize comfort, functionality, and the overall well-being of residents. We take pride in seamlessly blending innovative design solutions with a compassionate approach to redefine the standards of long-term care facilities as homes for residents.
The bottom line for us is that we are not building an institution. We are not building a house. We are building a HOME.
Age in place, combined with biophilic design, is an approach we have adapted to craft spaces that not only meet medical and functional requirements, but also provide a warm and nurturing atmosphere for residents to thrive in their later years, promoting a sense of independence and autonomy.
Some of our favorite Long Term Care Projects:
- Chancellor Park, St. John’s, NL
- Pleasant View Towers, St. John’s, NL
- Westburry Estates, St. John’s, NL
- Presentation Sisters Long Term Care, St. John’s, NL
- Happy Valley-Goose Bay Long Term Care, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
- Maple Hill Manor, New Waterford, NS (in development)
- Highland Manor, Neil’s Harbor, NS (in development)
- St. Anne’s Long Term Care, Arichat, NS (in development)
02
Historic Restoration
We have worked on many preservation and restoration projects within Atlantic Canada. We believe that maintaining the cultural heritage and the integrity of historical structures, our team of skilled architects brings a unique blend of expertise and creativity to every project. We embrace the challenge of balancing modern functionality with the preservation of historical aesthetics, ensuring that each design pays homage to the past while meeting the needs of the present.
Some of our most significant Historic Restoration Projects:
- Cochrane Street United Church, St. John’s, NL
- Moravian Mission Restoration and Adaptive Re-use, Hopedale, NL
- Presentation Sisters Convent, St. John’s, NL
- Luxus Hotel, St. John’s, NL
- Church of Good Samaritan Renovation, St. John’s, NL
- St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, St. John’s, NL
03
Accessibility and Universal Design
Accessibility is at the forefront in any design. We believe in going above and beyond the minimum requirements for accessibility standards to create spaces that are universally inclusive. By breaking down physical barriers, we allow our designs to serve as beacons of inclusivity, where accessibility is not just a compliance measure but an integral part of a well-designed and welcoming space.
Universal design principles can be distilled into the following general action items:
- Equitable use: one design should serve all users comfortably and safely
- Flexibility in use: a variety of ways to access, by people of different ages and abilities
- Simple and intuitive: users immediately see how to use an object or navigate a space
- Perceptible information: clear and legible, accounting for differences in vision, hearing and mobility.
- Tolerance for error: the design minimizes the potential for errors and dangers
- Low physical effort: the design does not require the user to exert great physical effort or to adopt an uncomfortable body position
- Size and space for approach and use: all users can reach and manipulate objects and navigate spaces comfortably.
04
Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification(TM) Professional
Rob Menchenton is specialized in Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ Professional services, ensuring expertise in our designs to not only meet but exceed accessibility requirements. Rob’s commitment to achieving the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ reflects our firm's dedication to promoting inclusivity and setting new benchmarks in accessible design.
05
Passive House
We have experts that specialize in the principles of Passive House design. Passive House standards means that we go beyond conventional design practices, focusing on optimizing insulation, ventilation, and overall building performance to reduce energy consumption. We prioritize creating energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally conscious spaces. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative design strategies, we aim to create buildings that not only prioritize environmental stewardship but also provide occupants with unparalleled comfort and well-being.
Passive House strategies can inform upon early design concepts that enable a pathway towards a truly energy efficient building. Rather than introduce new technologies, it works to refine tried and scientifically tested approaches to construction methods. It aims towards a performance based approach as opposed to a prescriptive one, with a focus on an envelope first approach to creating comfortable, durable, and extremely efficient buildings, requiring thoughtful design, rigorous energy modeling, and craftsmanship during construction.
06
LEED
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a widely recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED provides a framework for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining sustainable buildings and communities. It allows for reduced energy use and carbon emissions, higher resale value, less waste, lower utility costs, and provides a pathway to meet sustainability goals
We have a number of Projects that have met LEED certification, including:
- Pleasant View Towers, St. John’s, NL (Silver)
- CBS Stadium, Conception Bay South, NL (Silver)
- MUN CORE Science Facility, St. John’s, NL (Silver)
- MUN Grenfell Student Residences, Corner Brook, NL (Silver)
- MUN Arts & Science Building Extension, St. John’s, NL (Silver)
- Coley’s Point K-3 School, Bay Roberts, NL (Silver)
- Paradise Intermediate School, Paradise, NL (Silver)
- Marine Atlantic Office Building, Port Aux Basques, NL (aiming Silver)
- Deer Lake Annex, Deer Lake, NL (aiming Silver)
SERVICES & SPECIALTIES
01
ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
With most of our Architectural Design, we operate as the Prime Consultant, where we manage the project, integrating all disciplines together for the entire Project. As the Prime Consultant, we are the one point of contact for the Client, allowing them to rely on consistent guidance for projects with increased complexity, many stakeholders, or a client group with limited construction experience. We manage all sub-consultants such as engineers and specialists while also advocating on behalf of the client to the contractor.
When our clients don’t know what they are looking for in space, we can help define the spatial requirements of activities, also known as the Functional Program. We fine-tune our method based on the project’s timeline and stakeholder group. In the past, this has included leading design charettes, user group workshops, or public meetings. Workshops allow a Client to fully communicate and realize their vision through our guidance and experience.
Our years of experience help us quickly and efficiently synthesize your vision for design. Typically, our clients use these documents for funding applications, presentations, or to determine whether the project is feasible and worth pursuing. This can involve explorations of site conditions, accessibility throughout the design, reviews of concepts against local and national building code requirements, zoning by-laws, climate considerations, as well as sun and wind studies of massing models.
We can provide a range of services from a simple office furniture layout to envisioning a complete interior design concept that reinforces a company brand or creates the right mood for a space. We explore the latest developments in the industry to suit the Project, consider how color affects the user psychologically, develop aesthetic schemes so all elements work holistically, and utilizing visual technologies so that the Client can envision the final results at early stages in the process. We can also specify manufactured furniture or design custom furniture to complete the design.
We help buildings grow with our clients. You may need to renovate to meet universal accessibility or fire and life safety requirements, change a building’s function, upgrade the envelope to fix leaks, or add insulation to bring a building to a more modern and sustainable standard. Renovation and Upgrade work is a science unto itself with its own set of challenges and unique solutions.
02
SPECIALTIES
With a profound understanding of the unique needs and challenges associated with the aging population, our team is well experienced in creating environments that prioritize comfort, functionality, and the overall well-being of residents. We take pride in seamlessly blending innovative design solutions with a compassionate approach to redefine the standards of long-term care facilities as homes for residents.
The bottom line for us is that we are not building an institution. We are not building a house. We are building a HOME.
Age in place, combined with biophilic design, is an approach we have adapted to craft spaces that not only meet medical and functional requirements, but also provide a warm and nurturing atmosphere for residents to thrive in their later years, promoting a sense of independence and autonomy.
Some of our favorite Long Term Care Projects:
- Chancellor Park, St. John’s, NL
- Pleasant View Towers, St. John’s, NL
- Westburry Estates, St. John’s, NL
- Presentation Sisters Long Term Care, St. John’s, NL
- Happy Valley-Goose Bay Long Term Care, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, NL
- Maple Hill Manor, New Waterford, NS (in development)
- Highland Manor, Neil’s Harbor, NS (in development)
- St. Anne’s Long Term Care, Arichat, NS (in development)
We have worked on many preservation and restoration projects within Atlantic Canada. We believe that maintaining the cultural heritage and the integrity of historical structures, our team of skilled architects brings a unique blend of expertise and creativity to every project. We embrace the challenge of balancing modern functionality with the preservation of historical aesthetics, ensuring that each design pays homage to the past while meeting the needs of the present.
Some of our most significant Historic Restoration Projects:
- Cochrane Street United Church, St. John’s, NL
- Moravian Mission Restoration and Adaptive Re-use, Hopedale, NL
- Presentation Sisters Convent, St. John’s, NL
- Luxus Hotel, St. John’s, NL
- Church of Good Samaritan Renovation, St. John’s, NL
- St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, St. John’s, NL
Accessibility is at the forefront in any design. We believe in going above and beyond the minimum requirements for accessibility standards to create spaces that are universally inclusive. By breaking down physical barriers, we allow our designs to serve as beacons of inclusivity, where accessibility is not just a compliance measure but an integral part of a well-designed and welcoming space.
Universal design principles can be distilled into the following general action items:
- Equitable use: one design should serve all users comfortably and safely
- Flexibility in use: a variety of ways to access, by people of different ages and abilities
- Simple and intuitive: users immediately see how to use an object or navigate a space
- Perceptible information: clear and legible, accounting for differences in vision, hearing and mobility.
- Tolerance for error: the design minimizes the potential for errors and dangers
- Low physical effort: the design does not require the user to exert great physical effort or to adopt an uncomfortable body position
- Size and space for approach and use: all users can reach and manipulate objects and navigate spaces comfortably.
Rob Menchenton is specialized in Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ Professional services, ensuring expertise in our designs to not only meet but exceed accessibility requirements. Rob’s commitment to achieving the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ reflects our firm's dedication to promoting inclusivity and setting new benchmarks in accessible design.
We have experts that specialize in the principles of Passive House design. Passive House standards means that we go beyond conventional design practices, focusing on optimizing insulation, ventilation, and overall building performance to reduce energy consumption. We prioritize creating energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally conscious spaces. By seamlessly integrating cutting-edge technology and innovative design strategies, we aim to create buildings that not only prioritize environmental stewardship but also provide occupants with unparalleled comfort and well-being.
Passive House strategies can inform upon early design concepts that enable a pathway towards a truly energy efficient building. Rather than introduce new technologies, it works to refine tried and scientifically tested approaches to construction methods. It aims towards a performance based approach as opposed to a prescriptive one, with a focus on an envelope first approach to creating comfortable, durable, and extremely efficient buildings, requiring thoughtful design, rigorous energy modeling, and craftsmanship during construction.
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a widely recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED provides a framework for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining sustainable buildings and communities. It allows for reduced energy use and carbon emissions, higher resale value, less waste, lower utility costs, and provides a pathway to meet sustainability goals
We have a number of Projects that have met LEED certification, including:
- Pleasant View Towers, St. John’s, NL (Silver)
- CBS Stadium, Conception Bay South, NL (Silver)
- MUN CORE Science Facility, St. John’s, NL (Silver)
- MUN Grenfell Student Residences, Corner Brook, NL (Silver)
- MUN Arts & Science Building Extension, St. John’s, NL (Silver)
- Coley’s Point K-3 School, Bay Roberts, NL (Silver)
- Paradise Intermediate School, Paradise, NL (Silver)
- Marine Atlantic Office Building, Port Aux Basques, NL (aiming Silver)
- Deer Lake Annex, Deer Lake, NL (aiming Silver)