Marymead Independent Living Units, Offices and Care Houses

Marymead’s precinct redevelopment site in Narrabundah has allowed them to provide their plethora of services more holistically and centralised. The $43M project completed in December 2019 won the MBA Excellence in Building Award in the Special Purpose/ Adaptable Dwelling category in 2020.

Marymead’s care programs focus predominantly on the ageing population, youth and families with higher than average care needs. With this in mind, Marymead engaged SQC Group as the principal design consultant to design fit-for-purpose buildings. This target groups meant that the Architectural design solutions were quite specific and concentrated on flexibility of use, provision of special needs facilities, quality of finish, comfort and adaptability.

The scope of the work on this project comprised:

1.     A three-storey purpose-designed community services and programs support facilities building;

2.     Redevelopment of the residential care accommodation, including the design of three new disability-modified care houses (with one now completed), and

3.     Development of 84 new independent living units for seniors forming a retirement village living with support facilities including; community centre, communal gardens and orchard, road infrastructure, carparking and landscaping.

As part of the Independent Living Units development, a community centre was also designed, allowing small and large groups to come together for social activity. This space was located centrally and purposed to be the hub of social activity in this precinct.

SQC Group assisted Marymead through our design expertise to develop the concept brief and design, the Development Application stage, and then consulted through the key stages of the construction phase. We coordinated all required specialist inputs and provided liaison with ACT Government agencies as needed.