THE BUSINESS
An Edmonton pharmacy required a new and larger space to continue growing their operations without sacrificing its long-standing presence in its neighborhood and thoroughfare. The pharmacy serviced retail convenience customers, walk-in pharmacy services, and a significant delivery program for large pharmaceutical orders multiple times per week.
THE CHALLENGE
The pharmacy was in a historic area with few retail options in the surrounding area able to accommodate the three major aspects of the business. Our clients were committed to the store being walkable for older, long-term customers in the community.
An Edmonton pharmacy required a new and larger space to continue growing their operations without sacrificing its long-standing presence in its neighborhood and thoroughfare. The pharmacy serviced retail convenience customers, walk-in pharmacy services, and a significant delivery program for large pharmaceutical orders multiple times per week.
THE SOLUTION
Jaffer Consulting Inc created a list of requirements and options for the space to ensure that all aspects of the business could be serviced within the same, compact space.
Through this business analysis, the team reached the following conclusions:
- The existing floor space would not be able to accommodate all the uses required plus formal office, meeting, storage, and communal staff spaces
- The existing hanging mezzanine in the space was not structurally sound and could potentially impact the roof structure of the building
- No engineered drawings were available for subgrade utilities or within the space itself and would need to be recreated in order to create new connections
- A large echo was apparent due to the ceiling height and concrete walls of the building
A former auto repair facility was available and nearby but required negotiation for an affordable price and a complete overhaul to accomplish the change of use required. With few other options, a deal was completed, and Jaffer began demolition of the structurally unsafe areas and entered the design review process.
Jaffer and their team of consultants recreated a schematic of all underground utilities running underneath the foundation, most of which had been installed prior to City record keeping. With all restrictions identified, a thin, lightweight structural steel mezzanine was designed to maximize ceiling space while still supporting the loads from dry storage, offices, a lunchroom and a meeting space. Additionally, a sound absorbent decorative ceiling system was implemented in both the wall and ceiling system to maintain a clean and modern look while managing sound.
The store continues to operate successfully and has remained a core part of its gentrifying area.
THE RESULTS
Chosen for our reputation for creativity and adaptive reuse, Jaffer Consulting Inc was presented the task of identifying, evaluating, designing and monitoring the redevelopment of a standalone auto repair shop into a retail compounding pharmacy. This was accomplished by:
- Performing a detailed needs assessment to support all parts of the business for convenience, retail pharmacy, consultation and bulk patient servicing work to be carried out in the space
- Forming a team of consultants and subconsultants to evaluate ground contamination, recreate mapping of subgrade utilities within the building and create an efficient floor plan
- Creating a ceiling structure to limit echoing without compromising ceiling height
- Redesigning a new, structurally sound, mezzanine office space to create greater ‘shop floor’ visibility and corporate offices