s.. - * g .. s - . Lanclscaping cesigneci to meet speciflo needs of patients By Mike Kowalskl The age-old custorn of giving flowers to cheer up a sick pesn has been taken one stopa er by designers of the Whitby Men- tal Heaith Centre. The thousands of trees ebrube and assorted plantings tiiat wiîl adorn the site of the new hospi- tai, as well as the walkways and paved areas that crisecrogs the grounds, have at least one comn- mon thread. Virtually ail have been tailored te complement the various treat- ment programs offered at the Gardon Street faeility. "Everything bas been driven byrthe needs of, the jpatients and the pragramns provided by staff, explains Mary Jane Lovering of the Toronto-base<j landscae architectural firm Vertechs D iIc. uIIre gone throuLrh a tremen- doua exercise ini trymng te, create the right type of environment because everyane's needs are so different» she says. Working in conunction with joint Venture architects Crang and Boake/Cannon/Maffat Kinoshita, Lovering's firmn is res- ponsible for the centre's 'estbetic' qualities.u She and partner Inese Biteg have spent the past 15 Years a specializing in landscaping bealth care facilities and h ave been involved with the $133- million Whitby Mental Health oi Centre redevelopment since tî 1991. i This project bas proven espe- cially cballenqging because of it limailue requirements Loverm, For instance, of the 12 outdoo and two interior courtyards, eacl bas been designed te reflect thg needs of the variaus patient living nearby. The courtyard adjacent te tb psychogeriatrjc unit, for exam. pie features an enclosed garder and bard walkinig surface. Elderly ptients in this facility wil no; b assusceptible ta tripping as tbe'y migbt be on sotr, uneven'grass, Lovering saThis area wae' developed with a walkway systern whicb- leads te, a specific destination and wbicb does not take mucb time," sbe says. "This would be different from the outdaor spaoe for patients; Who are scbizopbrenic. e c'an move about the grounds on their own and don't need an enclosed space." L-overing says -special attention was taken to ensure that tbere will be «strongm nteraction bet- ween tbe outaide and inside." Ail bedroomne in tbe bospital are oriented to Lake Ontario and ae much as posslible, bave an unobstructed -view' of the grounds, wbile still giving tbe appearance of prîvacy, ehe Baya. Whitby Mental Healtb Centre anigadministrator Bill Dferom says certain features ýaes bave ni r ot-d ite the neýw building. >< «Each cottage bad a front door sand a back door and a yard,' g a;sBergstrom. wve tried te carry it over te rthe new facility 50 everyone can take advantage of the outdoore te e the best of tbeir ability." 8 Là ess mobile patients will be boused on tbe fRrst floor of the 3two-sterey bospital and not have *te contend witb any barriers that 1may prevent acces to the grounde, Brsrmsays. The new centre has aiea been *designed witb the comniunity i mind, be notes. A combination pedestiaji and bicycle patbway askirte the peri- meter cf the 88-acre site and there will be two basebaîl dia- monde and picnic areas for the publics use. "Historically tbere Was a rea-ý son wby the âospital was near the lalce, it was away from tbe tin»says Bergstrorn. "l4ow that people are encroacb- ing on tbe bospital, we want te, encourage tbem te, corne bere and visit. We want te, create a friendly environment.» %ially, the rem nants ofte apple orchard tbat was an in- tegral part of tbe bospital's early history' bave been retained wberever feasible, Bergstrom says. (The orchard provided fruit for the patiente and revenue for the bh pta] until tbe 1950s.) ce tried te, save as many trees as we could,» be saye. uWe bad tbern build around tbe trees wberever possible.» .4. 4 -4 N-b. .4-.-'. ALL PATIENTS' rooms have a view of Lake Iandsoaeo< grounds, giving strong interaction Ontario and, as much as possible, the nicely between the outside and the inside. Photo) by Mark Reesor, Withy Free Pres CONG4RATrULAIONS to th e " . Whitby Mental Health Centre ' re strn ofexpandn health ser vices in Durham Region., i HIELDS CAXT AVE BROADBENT t.,L(OCAL 222 1425 PHILLIP MuURAY AVENUE, OSHAWA, ONTARIO LI J 8L4 TELEPHONE (905) 723-1 187 Dedicated to Serving Our Membership Trafalgar Castie School .9 bi t'AEducation for Excellence" A ('anadial, Tradition Since 1874 offers University Preparatory Education for Young w'omen from Grade 7 to OAC A limited number of boarding and day openings available for 1996/1997 Some financial assistance mnay be avaibe for qualifled candidates Consider an Independent Alternative For further information contact: Trafalgar Castie School Irene Talent 40 1 Reynolds Street, Whitby ON L IN- 3W9 905-668-3358 Fax,905-668-4136 ACCREDITED BY: THE CANADIAN EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS INSIflU'E 4 - ,<, 4.,,,.,- I 108, Athol St., Whitby, Ontario -Li N 3Y9 Phone (905),666-1114,@ Fax (905) 666-1678 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm; Sat. 9am-12 noon --Page 5 t 0 1 A Congratulations Whitby Mental Health Centre WHITBY'IS ONLY TRUE DISCOUNTr DRUG AND VITAMIN WAREHOUSE!!M-1 JERRY IS ALLERGIÇ TO HIGH PRICES! 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