MICHAEL SIEFF
Community visitors were offered guided tours around the residence and day care centre and reactions could not have been more rewarding – people were quite literally moved to tears.
The project has taken three years from conception to completion. The actual construction work – from the time the first shovel of dirt was moved to the moment the beds were made up and the books unpacked onto shelves – took just 12 months.
I remember asking Arcadia General Manager Adina Menhard three years ago to provide us with an ambitious wish list for Arcadia. She did and at the time thought her list was the stuff of dreams. Now she knows that dreams can come true!
This magnificent project has been a collective effort on the part of professionals, donors and staff.
While there are so many things about it that are wonderful, I am most delighted about the consultative and collaborative effort between the modern architectural design and the needs of the children occupying the space.
The focus in the residence is on normalising the children’s environment and making it family-centred. For example, the dining room and kitchen are the heart of the home and meals are eaten together.
Each child has his or her own bedroom and only two share a bathroom. The house is designed to provide a perfect balance between their need for privacy and for company.
Care-workers are housed close to the younger children and, as a result of Arcadia being caught unprepared to accommodate new-borns in the past, the nursery is fully equipped.
All common areas in both the residence and day care buildings are modular, making them versatile and multipurpose. While quite separate from the residence, there is access to the swimming pool, playground and outdoor equipment from the day care area.
I want to express gratitude to everyone involved and to pay tribute to my hardworking colleagues on Exco and to the Arcadia operations, revenue and marketing teams for their dedication to this heart-warming project.
The children will move in soon, after which access to the residential building will be restricted in order to protect their privacy. We, like everyone in the community, are thankful, excited and delighted about this wonderful milestone in the development of Arcadia.
May our partnership continue to thrive feedback@jhbchev.co.za
