BID Projects 2021: Sheridan College

ARIDO would like to celebrate the class of 2021 from Ontario ARIDO-recognized schools and ensure their work is appreciated. ARIDO has worked with these schools to promote a selection of 4th year BID student work on BLOG//ARIDO and will be posting the work each Wednesday during the coming weeks.

Pakistani Canadian Cultural Centre – Anosha Tariq

The Pakistani Canadian Cultural Centre is a proposed design for a cultural community centre for immigrants. The concept explores the different layers of how this facility can foster connection. The first layer is the connection of people with each other, the second is people with the culture, and another is people with learning new skills. 

The floor plan is divided to include two distinct zones, one to learn and the other to be social. The facility is equipped with a hustling social area, home to the main gathering hall, social café, lounges as well as a gallery. The learning zone contains flexible classroom spaces, library, computer lab, seating area, a language, and job counselling office. Accessibility is addressed with a wayfinding kiosk while a mindful/prayer room accommodates religious needs.

The Nest Centre – Brian Khair

Music therapy is an often overlooked treatment method for stress-related illnesses in all generations, especially youth. The goals of the space is to encourage youth to utilize therapy for treatment, offer professionally-developed and personalized therapeutic treatment methods to comply with each patient’s musical preference, and provide a comfortable and trusting environment for patients.

“Farm-Cycle” Sustainable Learning and Experience Center for Children – Chris Lee

The design intent is to create a biophilic space that maximizes children’s curiosity in an educational environment which blends nature with cutting-edge technology.

The centre offers special programs for children with diverse learning styles. It will also maintain strong links to local communities through the farmers market and bicycle service bars. Two major in-depth workshops, vertical farming and worm farming, will support the farmers market with fresh organic products. To encourage the use of bicycles, ‘farm cash’ will be accumulated for cyclists.

Aloe Vera Care – Dementia Care Community – Joseph Anthony Fraschini

Aloe Vera Care is a community for individuals living with dementia providing patients with programs, services, events, and daily activities.  Aloe Vera Care also hosts classes and workshops to teach staff and family members techniques on caring for individuals with dementia, to preserve their quality of life and stoke a sense of purpose and meaning.

The space supports clinical services, therapeutic services, nutritional services, as well as socials and events for clients to promote social interaction for patients.

Vitality Care Centre – Laura Dodaro

Vitality Care is a day program for Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers. Vitality Care assists those coping with memory loss to create and maintain a lifestyle surrounded by positive mental, physical and social health. The presented renderings show the design of two key areas – the dining room, and the activity room. These areas were selected as they demonstrate the gathering of a community that becomes stronger and healthier through activity and socialization.

Header image also by Laura Dodaro.

Fanshawe College BID Projects

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Bachelor of Interior Design graduation shows and events have been cancelled. ARIDO would like to celebrate the class of 2020 from Ontario ARIDO-recognized schools and ensure their work is appreciated. ARIDO has worked with these schools to promote a selection of 4th year BID student work on BLOG//ARIDO and will be posting the work each Wednesday during the coming weeks.

BREYMANN WELCH-CLARK

My thesis project is the design of a counselling centre for veterans with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) to improve their health and well-being outcomes. When facing PTSD one can experience many negative side effects, including constant awareness, anxiety, depression, and interpersonal problems at work and home. From my research, I was able to design a space that promotes comfort and healing for this vulnerable population.

TAIMI JOHNSON

My thesis project focuses on designing for family-centred involvement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). My research focused on the way family involvement has a positive effect on the healthy growth and development of infants in the NICU. To promote family involvement, I designed a space that promotes the involvement of parents in the NICU to optimize infant care.

CHRISTINE BELANGER

This project focused on memory care for retirement residences. My project is the design of a memory care home for residents experiencing dementia which promotes senior independence through social spaces and wayfinding.

SYDNEY WOOLSEY

Today’s youth are a driving force in global sustainability issues and have the potential to create meaningful, lasting change. Despite this fact, youth still face challenges to living sustainable lifestyles, constrained by environmental limitations, or learned behaviour. My thesis project explores the relationship that youth have with sustainability and possible design solutions which can be implemented to encourage sustainable lifestyle practices.

TAYLOR MCQUEEN

Throughout history, hospital emergency departments have been focused on staff efficiency. Now, the design of the emergency department is becoming more human-centred for patients, in conjunction with staff. The focus of my thesis project is an emergency department that increases well-being and decreases patient anxiety through the integration of interior design interventions. Interventions like biophilia, proper lighting design, and acoustical design work together to create a safe, tranquil, and healing environment.

Humber BID Class of 2020 Thesis projects

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Bachelor of Interior Design graduation shows and events have been cancelled. ARIDO would like to celebrate the class of 2020 from Ontario ARIDO-recognized schools and ensure their work is appreciated. ARIDO has worked with these schools to promote a selection of 4th year BID student work on BLOG//ARIDO and will be posting the work each Wednesday during the coming weeks.

Petrichor Healing Environment for Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Student: Cassandra Christman

            Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) remains one of the most prevalent psychiatric conditions among veterans. Petrichor Healing Environment aims to provide veterans diagnosed with PTSD and their families the opportunity to experience physical and mental restoration within a space that offers positive social interactions, personalized healing journeys, and an array of healing activities.    

Here are some of the spaces included within the facility;

  • Café & event space
  • Yoga studio
  • Meditation room
  • Art studio
  • Veteran art gallery
  • Private therapy rooms
  • VR therapy room
  • Service dog training centre with kennels
  • Office space

MakerKids: STEM Education Centre

Student: Geannie Huynh

In response to the rise of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs in children’s education, the design of the project is to reimagine educational centres that enrich students creative process through innovative space, flexible classrooms, and collaborative work areas. This centre is where students learn new skills, share ideas and experiment with different projects.

The concept of the space is inspired by the STEM process, the ‘Design Thinking Cycle’, where creation is central in the process. The idea of creation is an important aspect of the learning process because creativity brings student’s imagination into reality. In the project, the design centres around the Prototype Studio — a space of creation where students may build their ideas and collaborate on projects together. Classrooms and learning spaces on the second level surround the Prototyping Studio to give students the opportunity to observe, share, and generate ideas through the vertical two-storey connection in the atrium.

Linear and free-flowing forms are explored within the space signalling the contrast, in STEM education, between precise and creative ideas. The designs use linear forms and fun colours to give a sense of excitement and playfulness. The goal of the design is to provide a space that inspires students creativity.


Nova Hotel

Student: Paige Emery

Nova Hotel is a sustainable boutique hotel located at 415 Eastern Avenue in Toronto. The intention of the hotel is to support the needs of millennials while also considering its environmental impacts. The design of this hotel strives to preserve the environment through the use of sustainable elements and by choosing essential features and materials based on their environmental effects, as well as their functionality and durability.

As hotels consume large amounts of water daily, water conservation and re-use methods have been highly investigated and integrated within the hotels design. The heart of the hotel is the central garden that not only provides locally sourced produce but supports an irrigation system that recycles the hotel’s greywater. The needs of millennials have been considered and supported by a casual work cafe, social spaces, and technology access throughout the hotel. The purpose of this hotel is to educate its users on the importance of sustainable practice as well as how the practices can be integrated within their own lives. It is also intended to inspire other designers to reduce their footprint and design with sustainability in mind.

The Social Kitchen

Student: Hayley Dougall

There is an overall increase in individuals eating alone and experiencing a sense of loneliness. The Social Kitchen is a space that offers a unique, hands-on culinary experience to help combat feelings of seclusion and promote human wellbeing through social cooking and symbiosis. Individuals coming together to cook and enjoy a meal will be able to share a special experience, create lasting memories, and form tighter relationships.

Restaurants are constantly looking for ways to become a more stimulating environment to keep customers engaged. The design of The Social Kitchen is split up so that the top floor acts as a restaurant and the main floor entails the culinary ‘Social Kitchen.’ It incorporates key materials that ensures the necessary privacy for the individuals participating in this cooking event.

Especially in this time of social isolation, we can all reflect on the importance of human interaction and how it enhances our quality of life. 


Art Therapy Centre for Eating Disorders

Student: Melanie Vander Vlugt

The mission is to design a centre that supports individuals at any stage of treatment through traditional and alternative therapies in both individual and group settings to encourage healing through connection.