EDMONTON — Chandos Construction recently celebrated the completion of okimaw peyesew kamik (the King Thunderbird Centre), a purpose-built facility developed in partnership with Boyle Street Community Services in Edmonton.
Located on a redeveloped 2.5-acre site in the McCauley neighbourhood, the centre brings Boyle Street’s previously dispersed services into one place, explains a release.
The 85,000-square-foot facility repurposes an existing commercial office building, transforming it into Boyle Street’s primary hub, bringing more than 200 staff members together.
The project involved extensive upgrades and site redevelopment, including improvements to the exterior building envelope, a complete interior fit-out, new building systems and the installation of the geothermal field.
Exterior work included land regrading, removal of an existing ramp and the creation of new walkways, private outdoor spaces and community gardens.
“The intent of this building was to bring Boyle Street’s services together into one home base, allowing their teams to work more collaboratively and serve the community more effectively. We are excited to help see this goal come to fruition,” said Matt Gustafson, project manager with Chandos Construction, in a statement. “The existing building structure and tight project footprint made for a challenging project that demanded ongoing planning and collaboration between Chandos, our trade partners and Boyle Street.”
The centre attained Zero Carbon Building Design v3 certification, the release adds, which was accomplished by reusing the existing structure and leveraging the existing embodied carbon, giving it a second life and avoiding the addition of more carbon intensive materials to achieve the build.
Other net-zero energy strategies included onsite renewable power generation of 206.9MWh annually through 360 solar photovoltaic panels and a geothermal energy system.
Stok consultants played a key role in guiding the project through the certification process, the release states.
Indigenous consultation was central to the project’s design and delivery.
Through collaboration with HSEA and Boyle Street’s Elder Clifford Cardinal, the project team worked to ensure cultural and ceremonial elements were thoughtfully and respectfully integrated throughout the site.
Chandos’ involvement also extended beyond construction, the company notes. In 2025, the company supported the Emergency Response Fund through the fourth year of a five-year, $15,000 annual commitment to Boyle Street Community Services.
“The emergency response fund allows Boyle Street to respond quickly to the urgent needs of those we serve. Everything to address the challenges of seasonal weather, from water to warm socks and hygiene products are stocked so we can ensure people get what they need when they need it,” stated Kassidy Green, manager of development with Boyle Street “Not everyone has shelter when the weather changes, with the winter season bringing big temperature fluctuations, increasing risks from spending extended periods of time outside. This fund prioritizes the dignity of our community and allow us to mobilize supports quickly.”