The Heritage Life Care Home Program Room is a distinctive timber framed space located within the Heritage Centre complex in Niverville, Manitoba. The Heritage Centre provides a full range of living and care options for residents, including independent living, assisted living, supportive housing, and full nursing care. Within this environment, the Program Room plays an important role as a shared gathering space where residents can participate in activities, social events, and community programs.
Architecturally, the Program Room stands out for its diamond shaped floor plan, which creates a unique interior layout while allowing the space to function as a flexible multi use venue. The room is designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, including entertainment programs, exercise classes, social events, and community celebrations. Its open interior layout ensures that the space can easily adapt to different uses throughout the year.
Supporting this unconventional geometry is a carefully engineered timber frame roof structure. The design incorporates several large timber trusses that work together to span the open interior while maintaining structural stability. At the center of the structural system are one 44 foot parallel chord truss and two additional 32 foot parallel chord trusses, which provide the primary structural support across the width of the room.
Complementing these structural elements are two 32 foot king post trusses, which add both strength and visual character to the frame. King post trusses are widely used in timber framing because they efficiently transfer roof loads while maintaining a clear span beneath the structure. In the Program Room, the combination of parallel chord and king post trusses allows the space to remain open and unobstructed, making it ideal for gatherings and activities.
A particularly interesting feature of the structure is the loft area suspended from one of the king post trusses. Rather than relying on additional support columns, the loft is effectively hung from the timber truss above, demonstrating the structural capacity of the engineered timber frame. This design approach allows the loft to exist without interrupting the open floor space below.
Because of the complexity of the timber frame geometry and the loads involved, the structural system required careful coordination between the design and engineering teams. Cornerstone’s design team worked closely with the project engineer to develop a custom steel reinforcement program that strengthens key structural connections throughout the frame. These concealed steel components provide additional support at critical joints while preserving the natural appearance of the exposed timber structure.
This collaboration between timber designers and structural engineers ensures that the building achieves both architectural expression and long term structural reliability. By reinforcing the most critical connection points, the design maintains the visual elegance of exposed timber framing while meeting modern engineering standards.
The Heritage Life Care Home Program Room illustrates how timber frame architecture can enhance community focused environments. By combining complex structural engineering with warm natural materials, the space creates a welcoming environment where residents can gather, participate in activities, and enjoy shared experiences.
Through thoughtful design, precise timber craftsmanship, and close collaboration between architects and engineers, the Program Room becomes more than a functional space. It serves as a central social hub within the Heritage Centre, bringing residents together in a space that feels both structurally impressive and warmly inviting.
