We’re proud to spotlight a recent project that underscores the importance of community, cultural leadership, and collaboration. In partnership with Atlohsa Family Healing Services and the City of London, the new Parkwood Hospital Housing Hub marks a significant step forward in providing safe, dignified shelter and services for Indigenous individuals in need.
Located at 550 Wellington Road, London, ON, this initiative introduces the first Indigenous-led shelter beds in the community, offering both privacy and access to essential services. The housing hub includes 12 individual sleeping cabins and a central support building featuring washrooms, showers, kitchen, laundry facilities, and a medical clinic.
Key Challenges
Delivering a safe, functional shelter space with full infrastructure support on hospital grounds came with several key challenges:
- Designing HVAC systems that complied with public health and safety codes, particularly for public food service environments.
- Ensuring efficient power and communications distribution to each individual sleeping cabin.
- Integrating advanced mechanical and electrical systems into a renovation environment without disrupting the existing infrastructure of Parkwood Hospital.
Solutions Provided
O’Dell HVAC Group was honoured to support this project by supplying a custom kitchen ventilation solution in collaboration with Callidus Engineering and Spring Air Systems Inc. Our team delivered:
- A Make-Up Air Unit (MUA) to ensure proper air balance within the kitchen
- A commercial kitchen hood to handle food service operations
- An exhaust fan, all designed to meet NFPA compliance standards for public food service
Results
- 12 individual sleeping cabins for safe, private accommodation
- Central support facility including showers, kitchen, laundry, and medical services
- First Indigenous-led shelter beds in the City of London
- Full NFPA-compliant kitchen ventilation system
- Collaborative delivery involving O’Dell, Callidus Engineering, and Atlohsa Family Healing Services
Conclusion
This project delivered a culturally responsive, technically sound, and community-driven solution. The shelter hub now provides safe, accessible accommodations while supporting wellness through integrated services like medical care, food preparation, and sanitation.
The ventilation system ensures safe, code-compliant kitchen operations, enabling staff to serve the community effectively and sustainably.
At O’Dell HVAC Group, we believe in more than just providing equipment—we believe in building better communities. This project represents a powerful example of what’s possible when engineering expertise meets a human-first mission. Supporting Indigenous-led initiatives like this one aligns with our core values of Everyone Cares, Driven to Innovate, and Leverage Collaboration. We’re proud to have played a part in bringing this meaningful space to life.
