Design that serves the specific needs of residents
Motivated to make a difference in their community, Véronique Cloutier and Louis Morissette set up the Fondation Véro & Louis to support the neglected cause of permanent housing for autistic adults. The mission? To build permanent living spaces tailored to the needs of adults living with autism spectrum disorder.
We helped the foundation complete its first Véro & Louis house by providing all engineering services (mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil). Located in Varennes, the 1,331 square metre (14,327 square foot), two-story building is divided into four residences connected by hallways. Each residence has five bedrooms and its own living room on the upper floor, while the building has common areas on the main floor, including an activity room, living room, cinema, fitness room, cafeteria/kitchen, dining room, administration, and caseworker space.
To address the sensory needs of residents, we paid close attention to the intensity of the lighting, temperature, acoustics, and selection of colors and materials. Our main challenge was to choose amenities that users would find comfortable, but with institutional levels of performance and efficiency. In addition, thanks to the quality of the insulation and windows, cost-effective lighting, high-performance energy-recovery fresh-air system and efficient air conditioning, the house exceeds all National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings (NECB) performance criteria by 27.5%.
Officially opened in summer 2021, the house is inviting, safe, and fully adapted to its 20 residents. The design approach developed for this first housing project can be replicated on the foundation’s future projects.
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