The Bethany Care Society has broken ground on a new 420-suite seniors residence in Calgary’s Hounsfield Heights-Briar Hill neighbourhood.

The groundbreaking launched a long-awaited redevelopment project, partially funded by a $114-million commitment from the Alberta government. The project is designed to provide modern care for seniors and other adults with disabilities.

The new care centre will be set on the southeast corner of Bethany Calgary’s existing site and feature private rooms with ensuites, ensuring that all residents have their own personal spaces.

The redevelopment’s hallmark is a small-home model that will deploy groups of 14-room homes that share dining and living spaces, forming unique neighbourhoods with distinct aesthetics.

The new care centre will be set on the southeast corner of Bethany Calgary’s existing site and feature private rooms with ensuites, ensuring that all residents have their own personal spaces.

Designed by Zeidler Architecture, the facility will include amenities such as a bistro, outdoor courtyards, enrichment areas, and community gathering spaces, creating an inclusive environment for residents, families, and the broader community. The amenities are intended to help normalize the experience of aging.

“The small-home model will shape the future of senior living design, with a focus on enhancing the resident experience through more intimate living spaces coupled with themed community spaces on each floor, said Bill Mitchell, a Zeidler partner based in the firm’s Calgary office.

The themed community spaces will enable residents to engage in activities and hobbies, as well as spaces to garden, bringing some of residents’ activities at their previous homes into their new one. Amid the loneliness epidemic, these spaces are considered key, as they encourage residents to be around other people.

“Working alongside Bethany Care, our goal was to create a space that feels like a true home rather than an institutional space, and I’m proud to say we’ve achieved that with the design of this new care facility,” said Mitchell.

The design has influences from the Hogeweyk Dementia Village in the Netherlands. Well-known within the industry, the Dutch care facility provides small-scale living while emphasizing quality of life and personal care to residents with dementia.

Bethany Calgary, one of Alberta’s oldest care centres, has served families since 1945, but the current facility no longer meets modern care standards, said the society, which owns and operates the site.

“Over 20 years ago, we began planning for the eventual replacement of Bethany Calgary as models of care evolved and as costs and risks associated with aging infrastructure increased,” said Jennifer McCue, president and CEO of Bethany Care Society. “This new development will ensure we can continue serving Alberta seniors in a modern, welcoming environment that truly reflects our mission to create caring communities.”

Construction, targeted for completion by late fall 2027, will take place without disrupting current residents or healthcare operations. The project aligns with Alberta’s ongoing efforts to improve seniors’ care.

“The Bethany Calgary redevelopment will allow us to continue serving Calgary’s diverse community for decades to come, in a care home designed to meet the current and future needs of seniors and adults with disabilities,” said Dr. Albert Kryski, who chairs the Bethany Care Society’s board.

In addition to receiving government funding, the Bethany Care Foundation is launching a $20-million capital campaign to help finance the project.