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About

Lanark County Interval House undertook an extensive renovation and expansion project to refurbish and add to their existing women’s shelter. From the outset, the project focused on the needs of the women fleeing abuse and seeking a safe place to go. Jackson-Brown Associates helped to facilitate an early consultation session with board and staff members to develop a vision for the project.   The design created a welcoming, warm and comfortable interior. The appropriate adjacencies of interior spaces, the height and location of windows and the strength of the building materials are among the project’s extensive but subtle security features. The residential areas are designed to remain private and enclosed, with the main entrance leading to the administrative section of the building.   The project also added two bedrooms along with administrative space for staff and crisis workers. This brought the total number of bedrooms to seven, each with its own bathroom. A fully accessible bedroom was also developed and an elevator was also added. Space was developed in the basement for residents to store their belongings. The expanded space reduced the need for families to share bedrooms and bathrooms at a time when they needed privacy and a place to heal.   The Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services provided capital funding towards this project.