Queenswood Daycare

Transforming an iconic modernist chapel into a vibrant daycare facility for UVic’s youngest learners.

Queenswood Daycare

Originally designed by celebrated architect John di Castri, the former Queenswood Retreat Centre chapel has been reimagined as a dynamic and nurturing daycare space for infants and toddlers. Through careful restoration and a highly considered addition, Cascadia Architects in collaboration with Western Design + Build has brought new life to a long-vacant building.

Type

Institutional
High-Performance
Community

Status

Completed 2023

Client

UVIC Properties

Location

Victoria, BC

Size

±4,500 sq. ft (418 m²) including a 70 m² addition

Awards

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Highlights

Adaptive reuse of a former chapel at Queenswood Retreat Centre into two daycare facilities for 37 children (18 months–5 years).

70 m² addition includes a toddler quiet room, designed to match original structure with mansard roof and concrete block walls.

Sustainable upgrades: high-performance glazing, improved insulation, retrofitted HVAC, and reuse of existing structure.

Located near UVic, the project increases childcare capacity and activates an underused heritage site with daily community use.

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The Chapel’s character-defining features preserved include the vaulted roof, clerestory skylights, exposed block walls, wood windows, and vintage lights. Energy performance was improved with envelope upgrades and interior furring walls for added seismic and thermal resilience.

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New windows and skylights added to enhance daylight/ventilation while preserving original character. Some stained-glass was retained. This project demonstrates a low-impact development and respectful heritage adaptation by preserving embodied energy and avoiding demolition. It revitalizes a long-dormant space with new life, daily activity, and community connection. The new layout provides safe, stimulating spaces and direct access to two forest-integrated outdoor play areas.

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“The demand for childcare in our community is extremely high, so we are thrilled to be creating new toddler and pre-school child care programs. We look forward to welcoming more children and families into our centres."
Kim Ainsworth, Director, University of Victoria Child Care Services
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The Team

ArchitectsCascadia Architects

Interior DesignWestern Design & Build

Structural EngineerSkyline Engineering Ltd.

Electrical EngineerAvalon Engineering

Mechanical EngineerAvalon Mechanical Consultants Ltd.

Civil EngineerHerold Engineering

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