New medical-services and residential development fills key health need in B.C.’s Interior
If one thing comes close to matching Alana Marrington’s keen business sense, it’s the obvious passion – and compassion – she has for her work.
She is the entrepreneurial force behind the Medical Services Centre and Residences at Collett Manor – a unique, multi-use development that’s close to final city approval in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Marrington knows from personal experience how challenging it can be to provide care to family and friends as they move through the medical system.
“We know what it’s like to search for amenities in a strange town, or to sleep on park benches between doctor’s appointments,” she says, speaking with the rest of her team at Pandosy Street Developments Ltd. in mind.
“Too often, patients and caregivers struggle to find the resources they need in close proximity to their medical team,” she continues. “Since we’re located across the street from the Interior’s largest and most comprehensive health-care campus, we had to make sure that the community’s needs were met, effectively filling a long-empty gap in the area’s medical landscape.”
As such, the residences at Collett Manor are homes that Marrington says are meant to “encourage positive and healing energies, whether you are there for a short term or for permanent living.”
Designed by John Schlosser at GTA Architects Ltd., the development’s 37 homes have simple, health-focused features like:
- purified air and radiant heating;
- antimicrobial countertops and touchless faucets;
- flexible wall systems that transform units from one bedroom to two;
- innovative flooring material that deactivates harmful substances; and
- completely edible or non-toxic landscaping.
Commercial space in Collett Manor benefits from the same healthy details as the residential portion of the project.
“We wanted the building to offer serenity, peace, respect and dignity,” she says. “Collett Manor is conducive to healing.”
The Medical Services Centre and Residences at Collett Manor is registered with the intent of becoming Canada’s first WELL-certified project, paving the way for a development revolution that sees health and wellness become a primary driver of design and construction choices.
The WELL Building Standard is third-party certified by the Green Building Certification Institute – the same organization that provides certification for LEED.
“In our mission to integrate hospitality into health care we discovered Delos in New York, which pioneered the WELL Building Standard,” explains Marrington. “Delos shared our philosophy to introduce scientifically validated features to positively impact health and vitality, and bring an overall sense of relaxation into the spaces we live in, work or visit.”
Collet Manor has engaged Delos to serve as its wellness adviser in seeking WELL Certification of the Medical Centre portion of the development project, and WELL Core and Shell Compliance for the core, shell and base systems of the residences within the development.
There have been some challenges. For example, before ground at the corner of Pandosy Street and Glenwood Avenue could be broken, Marrington and her team had to compel a change in the designation of the land in order to create a new Hospital District in Kelowna.
“We needed to [do that] in order to allow our vision to come to fruition, because nothing like this existed,” she explains.
Having cleared that hurdle, Marrington set to work on a much needed range of medical-related commercial and residential space, in one convenient hub, to complement Kelowna General Hospital, the Interior Health Authority, UBC medical programs and Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior.
Conveniently, the complex is located just 1 kilometre north and south of Kelowna’s downtown core and South Pandosy Town Centre.
“Whether you’re travelling back and forth for appointments or want to live in Kelowna, a home at Collett Manor is the image of urban convenience and an opportunity to enjoy the active lifestyle that we all love about the Okanagan,” Marrington says.
She adds, “By pioneering the Hospital District, we created an opportunity to improve the community in a social way. Since its adoption into the Official City Plan, our team is astounded by the positive feedback we have received from the community. It is a sign that this concept was greatly needed and has been embraced by those that we wanted to help. We could not be more proud to have helped shape and better our community.”
Website: www.collettmanor.com
Facebook: Collett Manor
Twitter: @CollettManor
With spectacular views, premier residences, Class A medical and professional space, welcome to the Okanagan’s playground. World class golfing, skiing and wineries.
