Kayla Mayen
Belonging
Community Design

Belonging

Non-Profit Elderly Community Center

Project Details

Type
Community Design
Year
2025
Location
Montreal, QC
Status
Completed
Client
Academic Project
Scope
Full Interior Design
Duration
5 weeks design sprint
CommunityNon-ProfitElderly CareAdaptive Reuse

A non-profit elderly community center designed to break the cycle of social isolation by creating a supportive and rich environment for seniors aged 65 and above.

Belonging reimagines the Brewster Building at 780 rue Brewster, a former industrial building now repurposed as a multi-tenant office, into a vibrant community center for elderly residents. The design offers financial advising, IT sessions, low-cost transportation, a hair salon, thrift shop, professional counseling, creative expression classes, active wellness programs, social and community events, and a mezzanine cafe with outdoor terrace and garden. The space is fully accessible and designed to help seniors acquire new skills, foster connections, and rediscover their sense of belonging in the community.

Usage Notice

All drawings, renderings, boards, and concepts shown here remain the intellectual property of Kayla Mayen and may not be copied, distributed, trained on, or reused without written permission.

Site & Neighborhood

Belonging project overview with Brewster Building location, sun study and neighborhood analysis
Brewster Building, 780 rue Brewster, Montreal, H4C 2K1, with sun path study and neighborhood context

Mission & Program

Mission statement, design goals, services and activities, and building summary
Mission, design goals and full program: financial advising, hair salon, thrift shop, counseling, wellness, cafe, and community events

Floor Plan

Ground floor plan with 18 labeled rooms including reception, hair salon, thrift shop, communal rooms, kitchen and offices
Ground floor plan: reception, low-cost hair salon, thrift shop, workshop, communal rooms, counseling rooms, private offices, classroom, kitchen

Reflected Ceiling Plan

Reflected ceiling plan with lighting legend and nine ceiling types
RCP with lighting legend: wood baffles, gypsum, T-bar and acoustic baffles at varying heights, 138 total fixtures

Mezzanine Plans

Mezzanine floor plan with cafe, lounge, outdoor terrace and garden
Mezzanine floor plan: cafe and lounge, outdoor terrace and garden with planter beds
Mezzanine reflected ceiling plan with wood baffles and gypsum ceiling
Mezzanine RCP: wood baffles at 9'-0" A.F.F. and gypsum ceiling at 9'-5" A.F.F.

Interior Perspectives

Hand-rendered interior perspective of the main hallway with built-in seating and terrazzo flooring
Main hallway with wood-paneled built-in banquette, orange cushions, green stools, terrazzo flooring and flush-mount pendants
Hand-rendered interior perspective of communal room 2 with colorful drum pendants and mosaic screen wall
Communal room 2 with round communal tables, colorful drum pendant lights, mosaic glass block screen and terrazzo flooring
Hand-rendered interior perspective of the mezzanine cafe lounge with wood baffle ceiling and planter wall
Cafe lounge with wood baffle ceiling, colorful drum pendants, bar counter with mosaic base, planter wall and outdoor terrace access

Aesthetic Proposals

Aesthetic proposal mood board for council room with Eames lounge chair, executive desk, olive green carpet and warm wood tones
Council room: Eames lounge chair, executive desk, olive carpet tile, sage wall paint, acoustic ceiling tile, 2-person sofa and ottoman
Aesthetic proposal mood board for communal room 1 with collapsible wall, stackable chairs, foldable tables and wood vinyl flooring
Communal room 1: collapsible glass partition wall, stackable red and blue chairs, foldable wheeled tables, wood vinyl flooring

Research Sources

Research sources page listing references on elderly abuse, social isolation, and community design precedents
Research sources: National Institute of Aging, Government of Canada, Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario, ArchDaily precedents, New Hope Senior Center

Tools & Software

AutoCADHand RenderingAdobe InDesign
Directive ConsultingAll Projects