Canada’s ageing population means an increasing demand for more facilities dedicated to providing care for elderly citizens. Facility operators and residents are looking for accommodations and services that are accessible, safe, cheery, and bright, and yet economical to construct and maintain. Wood construction offers many advantages—for example, wood-frame construction is economical, and wood finishes and exposed wood members offer architectural appeal and warmth. This Case Study provides information for two long-term care facilities recently constructed in Ontario, Canada. Both these projects exemplify the ambiance and features that operators and residents are seeking.

Located in Simcoe, Ontario, Norview Lodge long-term care facility accommodates 179 residents in a rural setting reminiscent of the farming background familiar to many of the residents. Set on a large site (Figure 1) at the edge of a natural Carolinian forest, the building’s wood structure and cladding allow it to fit easily into its rustic setting. Low in scale with large, sheltering roofs, the building reflects the modest, agricultural buildings of the area while providing an interior residential atmosphere.

At the conceptual design stage, several options were presented to the client, Norfolk County, including a high-rise of noncombustible construction. It was desired that the new facility reflect the agricultural heritage of the area, be moderate in cost, be low-scale in profile, and make best advantage of the views from the site. As a result, two-storey wood-frame construction was selected.