L’Arche Greater Vancouver

L’Arche Greater Vancouver’s project comprises three group homes for adults with development disabilities and those who assist them, mixed with affordable and near-market housing for the general public: there are 61-homes in total within the building.  

The architect of record for the project was GBL Architects. The west-facing, park-accessible building is in ‘C-shape’, centered around a significant 20-metre-tall pine tree that was carefully maintained and protected from the original site. 

Located just south of Metrotown and with access to Skytrain, the building comprises three levels of housing, including a chapel and accessible rooftop community gardens, along with one level of underground offering parking, storage lockers, and bicycle parking.  

The project is unique in that people with and without developmental disabilities share life together. It includes three fully accessible group homes, affordable rental housing, and a variety of program spaces. The group home areas include offices and administration, communal kitchens, and programming areas, with staffed rooms for adult accommodation, while the building design encourages interaction among all residents. Common areas include a beautiful courtyard, sweeping top floor including a green roof and outdoor patio amenities, meeting rooms, and library.  

Our role in the project 

CitySpaces supported L’Arche as its’ owner’s representative, working with Townline Housing Solutions on a design-build contract. CitySpaces coordinated funding with a variety of partners, including primary funding from BC Housing with additional support from City of Burnaby, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Community Living British Columbia. The partnerships enabled L’Arche to create a unique faith-based intentional community and care model.  

CLIENT: L'Arche

Project location: 7415 Sussex Drive, Burnaby BC