Constructed on the same site as the Langley Memorial Hospital, the Langley Hospice Facility is a new free-standing building that replaces the existing aged Hospice structure previously located adjacent to the Hospital building. Staff at the Langley Hospice provides essential care to terminally ill patients with the aim to relieve as much pain and stress as possible. The new facility provides a comfortable space to visit with family and features a spa, full-service kitchen and dining area, offices, fifteen private rooms with outdoor access and several common spaces intended for gathering during visits.
Williams Engineering (WE) provided mechanical and electrical engineering consulting services for the 15,700 square foot facility. WE’s mechanical team provided full plumbing designs for the building, including those for the commercial kitchen and laundry areas, were designed by WE’s mechanical team. Domestic hot water is generated in the main mechanical room of the building by high-efficiency natural gas hot water heaters and distributed by a central domestic hot water system WE’s mechanical team also provided designs for the HVAC system which included an energy efficient variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system utilizing individually controlled heating and cooling units for each residential room. This system was coupled with a central heat recovery ventilation unit which provides exhaust to all washrooms and delivers ventilation air to all spaces.
WE’s electrical designs included on-site service connections, which required coordination with various utilities, including BC Hydro, Telus and Shaw. Site lighting, security and nurse call systems, power distribution, power receptacle layouts and residential lighting system were designed by WE’s electrical team.
The team’s overall design goal for the Langley Hospice was to create a building that feels like a home, rather than a sterile medical facility, implementing plenty of natural light and brightness and utilizing many residential design elements to enhance the look and feel of the facility. The use of cost-effective skylights softens and warms the space with natural sunlight. Ultimately, this building provides patients and families with a welcoming facility that supports their needs with increased resources to facilitate quality end-of-life care at a time that is very difficult for all involved.
