Long-term care (LTC) homes are among the most complex building types in Ontario’s built environment. Beyond their scale, these facilities must balance stringent regulatory requirements with operational reliability, long-term durability, and evolving models of care—often within tight schedules and funding constraints.
As Ontario continues to invest in new and redeveloped LTC facilities, project success increasingly depends on early coordination and multidisciplinary expertise. For developers and architects, managing risk, approvals, and long-term performance is just as critical as delivering a compliant building.
Why LTC Projects Are Particularly Challenging
LTC homes in Ontario are subject to multiple layers of regulation, including the Long-Term Care Home Design Manual, the Ontario Building Code, accessibility legislation, municipal requirements, and evolving energy standards. Navigating these frameworks—while maintaining cost certainty and constructability—requires early and ongoing coordination across disciplines.
From an engineering perspective, site constraints, servicing capacity, structural systems, and building envelope performance must be aligned early in the design process. Decisions made at the outset can have long-term implications for approvals, construction sequencing, and operational performance.
Designing for Longevity and Operational Performance
Unlike many other building types, long-term care homes operate continuously. Engineering solutions must support intensive daily use, ease of maintenance, and adaptability to future regulatory changes or evolving care models.
Thoughtful upfront design, particularly related to servicing, structural systems, and envelope performance—can significantly reduce the need for costly retrofits later in the building’s life, helping owners protect long-term value.
The Role of Early, Multidisciplinary Coordination
Increasingly, LTC projects in Ontario are delivered through alternative models such as Design-Build, Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), and Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR). These approaches rely on early collaboration between owners, architects, engineers, and constructors to manage risk, control costs, and maintain schedules.
Early engineering involvement allows site and infrastructure constraints, constructability challenges, and performance requirements to be addressed before they impact approvals or construction.
MTE’s Experience in Long-Term Care and Senior Living
MTE supports the delivery of long-term care and senior living projects across Ontario, working as part of integrated consultant teams to deliver coordinated, high-performing solutions.
Linhaven Long-Term Care Facility Redevelopment, St. Catharines
As the Civil Engineering Consultant, MTE is providing grading, site servicing, and stormwater management design for a new five-storey, 261-bed long-term care home on a 7.88-hectare site. The project replaces an aging LTC facility and an existing hospice building, creating a modern care environment designed for long-term performance.
The project is pursuing WELL Silver certification under the WELL Building Standard, reflecting a focus on occupant health and well-being. MTE’s team is delivering coordinated site design solutions that support construction efficiency, effective stormwater management, and long-term operational reliability through close collaboration with the broader consultant team.
One Kenton Place: Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care, Toronto
One Kenton Place is a specialized care facility dedicated to providing individualized support for residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The facility is designed to address a wide range of resident needs, including social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual well-being, within a safe and supportive environment.
MTE provided structural engineering services for the building addition, delivering the structural design to support the expansion of the facility while aligning with the project’s functional and care-focused objectives.
Amica Balmoral Club Senior Living, Toronto
MTE is providing structural engineering services for the Amica Balmoral Club, a 13-storey, 147-unit retirement community offering a continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
The development is organized around a south-facing courtyard that connects indoor amenities with outdoor space, supporting both functionality and resident experience. MTE’s scope includes significant involvement in cold-formed steel systems supporting interior and exterior architectural elements. Working closely with the architectural and construction teams, MTE is supporting structural solutions that align with constructability, durability, and long-term building performance.
Engineering That Supports Care
With experience across long-term care and senior living projects in Ontario, MTE understands the technical, regulatory, and operational considerations that shape these facilities, while approaching each project with care and consideration for the residents, staff, and communities they serve.
Explore more of MTE’s healthcare projects.