A Historic School Becomes a Senior Living Facility

According to projections by the Quebec Institute of Statistics, a quarter of Quebecers will be at least 65 years old by 2031. As the population of the province gets older, developers want to meet growing demand for housing tailored to the aging demographic.

These figures are one of the reasons EMD-Batimo, a construction and real estate company headquartered in Boisbriand, Quebec, has developed a focus on senior housing. According to Judith Neveu, vice president of sales and marketing at EMD-Batimo, Quebec has the second largest proportion of seniors globally, after Japan.

One of the company’s most recent projects is Lib Aylmer, located in Aylmer, a neighborhood in Gatineau’s west side. The property features 160 rental units targeted at retirees and pre-retirees, aged 55 and older. The apartments vary from studios to three-bedrooms, ranging in size from 517 to 1,318 square feet (48 to 122 square meters).

The property’s target demographic isn’t its only distinctive feature. The development is also unique because it integrates the former Aylmer Academy, a former high school built in 1861, as well as a brand-new building.

Lib Aylmer’s renters “are people who are a little fed up with taking care of their home, but who are not ready to move to a nursing home,” Neveu said. This product fills a niche between the family home and an assisted living facility, according to her. Since residents are selling their houses to live in a rented accommodation, they are also vacating houses for young families, which benefits the whole housing system.

For the Lib Aylmer complex, EMD-Batimo opted to develop rental units instead of condominiums to minimize the residents’ dwelling-related responsibilities to the greatest extent possible. “People want to sell their house to be free,” Neveu said. Lib Aylmer’s conveniences extend to its all-inclusive approach, where the residents’ monthly rent includes all utilities, such as internet, air conditioning, electricity and heat.

Part of EMD-Batimo’s interest in this particular site centered around the Aylmer Academy, which was Aylmer’s first high school. The developer wanted its project to be closely tied to the local community, and restoring the academy gave them the opportunity to adapt a historic building and make it a prominent and useful part of the neighborhood, once again.

The Aylmer Academy was open until 1945. After that, it served as offices for the Western Quebec School Board for many years before it went up for sale. “The building was in rough shape when we came in,” said Samuel Pouliot, architect at NEUF architectes.

Since it was a heritage building, EMD-Batimo — and its architect, NEUF architectes —organized many consultations with the Aylmer Heritage Association, and they worked closely together on numerous versions of the project.

Because of the age of the building, the developer and the architect worked with contractors who specialize in the restoration of stone and other older architectural elements. Many custom pieces were created to fit with the original building, according to Neveu.

“For instance, in the small turret in the front, there were many round dormers [roof structures often containing windows], so we had many windows and other elements tailor-made in order to retain the integrity of the building as much as possible,” Neveu said. In addition to these aesthetic features, there were practical elements to take into consideration as well. For instance, the electricity and the plumbing had to be completely redone.

The two Lib Aylmer buildings (the former academy and the new building) are distinct structures, but a covered walkway links them together, which is particularly practical during the winter.

The new U-shape building is inspired by architectural characteristics that are featured on the original building, according to Pouliot. “We have picked up some elements of the academy such as roofs, dormers, the use of grey stone and the window templates.”

There are also four luxury apartments on the second floor of the academy, allowing some residents to live in a heritage building, complete with exposed grey stone walls. “We tried to bring out the features of the building, so every unit is different,” Pouliot said. The rental rates for these units are a little bit higher than the other apartments, but they still fit within the pricing of the building, according to Neveu. Rents are starting from 1,531 to 2,997 Canadian dollars per month, according to the Lib Aylmer website.

During their research about Aylmer Academy, the NEUF team discovered that a water fountain for horses had once existed adjacent to the school. This information inspired them to add a similar fountain on the Lib Aylmer site. “It’s a way of showing that we embrace the community’s history,” Pouliot said.

Most common areas at Lib Aylmer were situated in the former academy building, to retain its original purpose as a community space. “We wanted the [academy] building to remain at the heart of the project, so we placed most of the amenity and entertainment spaces there,” Pouliot explained.

Amenities located in the academy include a play zone with virtual golf and pool tables, and a common kitchen that serves as a gathering space. These spaces open on to the exterior terrace, which is equipped with a barbecue.

The common spaces foster a sense of community for residents, according to both Neveu and Pouliot. For example, there can be a pool tournament next to a happy hour, or a resident can host their family for a baby shower.

It can be common for people to feel isolated as they get older, and Lib Aylmer’s structure encourages meetings and chance encounters. “We worked really hard on the common spaces to create synergy and a community spirit within the project,” Pouliot said. “These open-plan spaces can host a lot of people, and they get to know each other as neighbors and develop friendships.”

Sports services, such as the gym and the pool, are in the new building. They are linked to a terrace that opens on to a private courtyard. “For us, it was important to have a space where people can feel comfortable exercising and using the pool, and those are elements that are very much sought-after by residents,” Pouliot said. “These residences are a bit like living at a hotel.”

In addition to its architecture and services, the Lib Aylmer project is popular due to its location, according to Neveu. “For Lib Aylmer, the opportunity was interesting partially due to its proximity to many services.”

Commercial center Galeries Aylmer, which includes a liquor store and boutiques, is next door, and there are many services and stores nearby, such as a grocery store, a library, drugstores and restaurants, among others. There are also a lot of outdoor leisure options in proximity, such as the marina, the Outaouais River, nature parks and golf clubs.

The Lib Aylmer project is compliant with the City of Gatineau’s sustainable transportation plan and is served by several public transit routes. “Residents with whom I’ve spoken have told me that they barely use their car anymore and that they are walking more,” Neveu said.

Retail stores and restaurants will eventually be added on the ground floor of the academy, but the commercial spaces were not yet leased when LoopNet spoke to Pouliot. “This building is located at the city’s entrance, it’s the first building that we see when we get to Aylmer’s historic core,” Pouliot said. “For us, it was important to mark the entrance and the continuity of the main street [with commercial tenants].”

For EMD-Batimo and NEUF, it was also important for the project to be well-integrated within the community. “For us, it wasn’t just a site, we wanted to be included within the neighborhood,” Pouliot said. “The project isn’t just about the residential building, it’s everything that is surrounding it as well.”