Parry Sound – District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB)

Parry Sound – District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB)

Project Description

This 19,000 square foot, LEED Silver facility, brings together under one roof the 50-person team of the District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) who were scattered in four separate small offices.

The Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board delivers municipal social services to the Parry Sound region. The DSSAB houses Ontario Works, Housing and Childcare services, rationalizing and unifying reception services, privacy, and security.

The project involved 10,000 sqft heavy renovation and 4,000 sqft of light renovation to existing office area as well a 5,000 sqft edition. The building was continuously occupied by the owner during construction. We phased and coordinated construction to ensure that this occupancy during construction was effective.

Coolearth Architecture was responsible for the coordination of architectural and engineering systems, for tendering and for contract administration, and for the LEED certification.

We used the opportunity of the 5,000sqft addition to incorporate a skylit corridor that brings light into the centre of the building, and creates a warm and inviting core to the existing building. We also installed bright windows into the common areas with natural ventilation strategies.

By creating a LEED Silver certified project in Parry Sound in 2007, the client team and Coolearth were able to make a strong statement about their commitments to a sustainable and just society.

Coolearth also assisted DSSAB’s neighbours, Espirit Place Family Resource Centre in creating the outdoor ramp to make the building universally accessible.