When it comes to healthcare facilities, design is just as important as the services offered within their walls.

This point was driven home at Recovery Brunch, a cocktail, breakfast and photo-op-filled affair held within Momofuko and on its breezy Daisho terrace. Think, the ultimate Sunday funday, complete with a DJ, auction items and mimosas and Bloody Caesars – all for a good cause.

Hosted by Future Sinai, a passionate group of 20 and 30-somethings whose mission is to raise funds and awareness for Sinai Health System, Recovery Brunch supports the Bridgepoint Foundation (part of Sinai Health System). Recovery Brunch was as much informative as it was fun. In between bites of breakfast, we were offered seasoned insight from Bridgepoint Active Health lead architect Greg Colucci of Diamond Schmitt Architects on how design can help the recovery process.

When Bridgepoint Active Health was given a facelift in 2013, the goal of a team of architects from Stantec, KPMB, HDR and Diamond Schmitt was simple: to change the hospital experience for both patients and staff. The 462-bed, 10-storey rehabilitation facility overlooks the Don Valley and has been redesigned to become an extension of the city, as opposed to a separate, closed-off entity.

We learned that every patient gets accessible floor-to-ceiling window space of their own and a resulting connection to the surrounding city. Its grounds are filled with gardens and walkways that breathe life into the recovery process for patients, in addition to a front porch and a sleek, greenery-filled rooftop terrace that’s complete with stunning views of the city.

The award-winning redesign of Bridegpoint is also full of talking points; the storied former Don Jail has now become Bridgepoint’s administrative offices. The bottom line is that a stay at Bridgepoint now feels less isolating for its patients, who spend an average of 90 days at the facility.

Co-chaired by Future Sinai members Ashley Salazar and Andrea Turner, Recovery Brunch raised more than $14,000 for Bridgepoint, part of Sinai Health System.

Photos by Nick Lee

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