Residents' comfort the prime consideration with Assisi project
The three-stage, $16.8 million aged care project consists of constructing a new two-storey wing comprising 45 bedrooms with bathrooms and an undercover car park to a section of the ground floor level, and refurbishing the existing resident accommodation over two stages.
Consisting of concrete slabs to the ground and first floor levels, the new building features a brick veneer facade with corrugated colorbond roof and has been designed by Thomson Adsett to complement the existing architectural style.
Featuring the “internal street” concept with a number of courtyards, the layout provides access to a communal activities hub for use by for residents and their guests. The facility is divided into three 15-bedroom blocks; each with a lounge, dining room and food serving area serviced by the central kitchen.
Upon completion of the new wing approximately half of the 90 existing residents will be relocated to the new wing, allowing the second stage to commence. The second stage consists of refurbishment of half the existing building.
The refurbishment includes upgrading bedrooms and creating individual bathrooms as well as construction of a hall, chapel, hairdressing salon and doctor's consulting suite.
The relocation process will be repeated upon completion of stage two with residents moving into the newly refurbished section to allow the remaining section of the original building to be upgraded.
“It's a complex task, firstly because the site has heritage listing and secondly because we have to ensure the comfort and safety of residents while keeping disruption to daily routine to a minimum throughout the construction period,” Buxton Construction managing director Andrew Briggs said.