Construction begins on new Dartmouth Family Centre with local dream team
From left to right: Harry (site supervisor, Bruno Builders) ,Evan (project manager, Bruno Builders), Robert (Bruno Builders), Sharon (board member, DFC), Beth (construction manager, Bruno Builders), Kristine (board member, DFC),Elliot (owner, Bruno Builders), Doug (board member, DFC),Jaime (By+Large Studios), Sue (landscape architect, Outside Planning and Design), Cassie (head architect, ZZap), Christina (project manager, ZZap),Joe (co-owner, ZZap), Wendy (Executive Director, DFC).
“Exactly one year ago today we looked at this vacant space for the first time and imagined being together under one roof. The fact that 12 months later we’re starting construction is a testament to everyone who’s worked on this project: from our Board and staff, to the Province of Nova Scotia, our individual and corporate donors and now, our amazing project team.”
Three local firms are joining forces to bring the Dartmouth Family Centre and Dartmouth North Community Food Centre together under one roof.
Bruno Builders, Zwicker Zareski Architecture + Planning (ZZap), and By + Large Studios are the ‘Dartmouth dream team’ behind making the new Dartmouth Family Centre a reality. Bruno Builders is leading construction, ZZap is architect and project management lead and By + Large is designing the interior of the new space. Each firm is based in Dartmouth and they are all making probono contributions to the build, which has a price tag of more than $500,000. In addition, the firms are working with their regular suppliers to lower costs for the nonprofit organization. “We are all working towards the same goal; the passion and commitment among this team is incredible,” said Wendy Fraser, Executive Director of the Dartmouth Family Centre/Dartmouth North Community Food Centre.
“Exactly one year ago today we looked at this vacant space for the first time and imagined being together under one roof. The fact that 12 months later we’re starting construction is a testament to everyone who’s worked on this project: from our Board and staff, to the Province of Nova Scotia, our individual and corporate donors and now, our amazing project team.”
During the construction kickoff Bruno Builders showed staff how the new space will be divided into a beautiful open child development space, a new large room for parenting programs, and a shared kitchen located in the heart of the centre. Additional rooms will be used for a food and toiletries trading cupboard, a private consultation and health room and offices. Outdoor construction will begin in the spring on a new Children’s Discovery Garden being designed by Outside! Planning and Design studio, which just won an award for its work at Hospice Halifax. District 6 Councillor Tony Mancini has asked city council to fund the Children’s Discovery Garden and his motion is being voted on by council on January 28th. The Dartmouth Family Centre and Dartmouth North Community Food Centre serve Halifax’s most disadvantaged community, where one in two children live in poverty and one in three adults. The centres provide a wide range of family and food-focused programming for the entire community. “Bringing our two sites together is going to make services more accessible to the entire community, allow for better coordination and collaboration and more cost efficiency,” said Fraser. “We can’t wait to be together under one roof.” To find out more about the One Roof project of Dartmouth Family Centre/Dartmouth North Community Food Centre, visit our campaign website.