192-Bed Saint Luke's Redevelopment in Cambridge

Traugott Building Contractors is leading a major redevelopment of Saint Luke’s Place in Cambridge, Ontario, replacing an aging long-term care facility with a modern 192-bed building while the existing campus remains operational.

The project includes construction of a 134,000-square-foot, six-storey facility designed to meet current Ministry of Long-Term Care and Ontario Building Code standards.

The new building will contain six Resident Home Areas with 32 beds each, along with specialized care areas, updated kitchen facilities, modern mechanical and electrical systems and barrier-free common spaces.

Traugott reports that one of the most significant aspects of the project is its phased construction program. Residents and staff will remain on-site while new construction, demolition, renovations and infrastructure work are carefully sequenced around the operating long-term care facility.

Six-Storey, 192-Bed Long-Term Care Facility

The new Saint Luke’s Place building will provide 192 long-term care beds within a six-storey structure.

The facility will be organized into six Resident Home Areas, each containing 32 beds. The Resident Home Areas will also incorporate flexible 16-bed pods.

The project includes:

• 134,000 square feet of new construction
• Six-storey building
• 192 long-term care beds
• Six Resident Home Areas
• 32 beds in each Resident Home Area
• Flexible 16-bed pods
• Specialized care areas
• Updated kitchen facilities
• Barrier-free common spaces
• Secure balconies
• Landscaped courtyard
• Modern mechanical and electrical systems

The design is intended to create a more modern and accessible long-term care environment while supporting efficient staff operations.

Accessibility Incorporated Throughout New Facility

Accessibility is a major component of the Saint Luke’s Place redevelopment. The new facility will include barrier-free access, universal washrooms and widened corridors. Common areas are also being designed to accommodate the needs of residents within the long-term care community.

Each Resident Home Area will feature a secure balcony, providing residents with access to outdoor space.

The Great Room will open onto a landscaped courtyard, creating another protected outdoor area for residents.

Phased Construction Keeps Campus Operational

Constructing a six-storey building within an active long-term care campus creates significant logistical challenges for Traugott and the project's subcontractors.

The construction program must allow Saint Luke’s Place to continue providing care while major portions of the campus are transformed. The phased approach includes temporary relocation of residents and staff as work progresses.

Construction must also be coordinated around existing building operations, pedestrian movements, deliveries and essential services. This sequencing allows residents to remain safely on the campus while the redevelopment advances.

Two-Thirds of Existing Building B to Be Demolished

Demolition represents another major component of the redevelopment. Plans call for demolition of two-thirds of the existing Building B as part of the project. The demolition must be carefully coordinated because the work is taking place within an active long-term care environment.

Extensive site work will also be required as the new building is constructed and the existing campus is reconfigured.

Once the new six-storey building has been completed and occupied, adjacent portions of the existing facility will be demolished and renovated to complete the campus transformation.

Mechanical Systems Relocated Before Major Construction

Early work includes upgrades to loading facilities and relocation of key mechanical systems. Completing this work early in the construction program allows essential services to remain operational while the new addition takes shape.

The project also includes new mechanical and electrical systems within the replacement facility.

Coordination of those systems is particularly important because the new building must meet current standards while connecting with and operating alongside portions of an existing healthcare campus.

Strict Infection, Noise and Dust Controls

Construction within an occupied long-term care facility requires additional measures that would not be necessary on a vacant development site. Traugott has implemented strict infection-control procedures along with noise and dust management protocols throughout construction.

These measures are intended to protect residents, staff and visitors while allowing construction to continue. The project therefore requires close coordination between the construction team and Saint Luke’s Place operations.

Work schedules, temporary relocations, demolition and building-system changes must all be managed without interrupting resident care.

Specialized Long-Term Care Construction

The new facility will incorporate spaces and systems specifically designed for long-term care operations. Specialized care areas will be integrated with resident rooms, common spaces, kitchens and staff-support areas.

Updated kitchen facilities will support both resident care and daily operations.

The six Resident Home Areas and smaller 16-bed pods are intended to organize the facility into more manageable residential environments rather than a single institutional layout.

Secure balconies and the landscaped courtyard will provide outdoor spaces while maintaining resident safety.

Construction Trades Involved

The combination of new construction, selective demolition, renovation and work within an occupied healthcare environment makes Saint Luke’s Place a complex multi-trade project.

Construction trades could include:

• Selective demolition contractors
• Excavation and earthwork contractors
• Site preparation contractors
• Foundation contractors
• Concrete contractors
• Structural steel contractors
• Reinforcing steel contractors
• Masonry contractors
• Building envelope contractors
• Window and glazing contractors
• Exterior cladding contractors
• Roofing contractors
• Waterproofing contractors
• Mechanical contractors
• HVAC contractors
• Plumbing contractors
• Electrical contractors
• Fire protection contractors
• Building controls contractors
• Healthcare specialty contractors
• Infection-control contractors
• Drywall and insulation contractors
• Carpentry contractors
• Millwork and cabinetry contractors
• Commercial kitchen contractors
• Kitchen equipment suppliers
• Flooring and tile contractors
• Painting contractors
• Door and hardware contractors
• Accessibility contractors
• Balcony contractors
• Landscaping contractors
• Courtyard contractors
• Loading-area contractors
• Sitework contractors

The phased nature of the project will require these trades to work within carefully controlled construction zones while portions of the Saint Luke’s Place campus remain occupied.

Saint Luke’s Place Campus Transformation Moves Forward

The Saint Luke’s Place redevelopment represents more than construction of a new building.

Traugott Building Contractors is carrying out a phased transformation of an active long-term care campus, combining new construction with demolition, renovation, infrastructure relocation and site work. The centerpiece will be the new 134,000-square-foot, six-storey building containing 192 beds across six Resident Home Areas.

For contractors and suppliers, Saint Luke’s Place demonstrates the complexity of long-term care construction, where building new facilities must be carefully coordinated with the safety and daily needs of residents, staff and visitors throughout the construction process.