The Centre 4800 Renovation transformed a 1950s-era, 123-suite hotel into transitional housing for the Calgary Drop-In Centre. Delivered through a construction management model, the project included an intensive preconstruction phase. The redevelopment created 79 apartments, community rooms, a fitness centre, a daycare, and a commercial retail unit for future tenants and businesses.
The team completed a full building envelope replacement, including new windows, roofing, and insulated metal panels. Inside, crews removed hazardous materials and stripped the building back to its concrete structure. They then installed new mechanical, electrical, and elevator systems. Site improvements included new underground services, community gardens, a granite paver courtyard, a rubberized wellness surface, landscaping, and parking lot upgrades.
Overcoming challenges
The team encountered several unforeseen challenges during construction. For example, the City required new services, including a transformer and dual water service, after construction was underway. As a result, the project team worked closely together to identify practical and cost-effective solutions.
Early collaboration helped the team identify unforeseen conditions and verify design assumptions. The team removed hazardous materials early in the process to help prevent future delays. Existing dimensions were verified against the design to ensure site conditions aligned with project requirements. The team also assessed key infrastructure, including stacks, drains, and plumbing, to confirm it would support the building’s long-term performance.
The team saved the owner $1.2 million (plus additional costs if the system failed) by identifying the need to replace the drain stacks ahead of completing new finishes. The team also salvaged and reused existing walls, floors, and other pieces of the existing structure.
This project was five years in the making and was one of the largest initiatives ever undertaken by the Calgary Drop-In Centre.
The team also supported the centre beyond construction. Through the Calgary Marathon, Chandos employees raised $14,000 in donations and pledges. Employees also assembled more than 120 Christmas stockings filled with household items for residents.
