The Oak Hills Community League contracted Anielski Management Inc. to complete a well-being return on investment and business case analysis (full life-cycle value accounting) of a proposed $1-1 million to $3 million community league building and site development. Well-being impacts of the project would be measured in terms of the social, economic and environmental aspects. Changes in the well-being of our community and other Edmontonians who enjoy the benefits of this well-being Hub would be determined in change in perceptional well-being from our investment in community assets.
The design, scope and budget for the community Hub buildings and well-being programs was based on a comprehensive community-wide household well-being survey and value assessment of what types of structures, recreation and personal development programs would generate improved well-being values for our community. This data is instrumental to determining the economics as well as the Well-being Return on Investment of our community asset investment.
The perceived well-being indicators were used to established a baseline of well-being conditions and feelings before the project and would be re-evaluated once the project was completed. The survey also asked individuals to identify specific attributes of the proposed community hall facility they would like use if the structure was built thus estimating future demand and thus perceptional value of the building and grounds.
This would be one of the first building projects of its kind to use a well-being-based approach to the design, building and operations of community infrastructure that would enable the community league to demonstrate a Well-being ROI (return on investment) of their capital investment to the main beneficiaries of the project (namely the households in the community who will use the new community hall, pathways, skating rinks, community gardens etc.). Moreover, the Well-being ROI analysis was considered unique in the eyes of capital grant funders such as the City of Edmonton and the Government of Alberta.
Mark Anielski, led the Oak Hills team in terms of well-being baseline assessment which revealed that improvements in neighbourliness, sense of belonging the community, knowing neighbours on a first name basis, physical well-being, walkability and community connectedness could result as a measurable impact on well-being.
This was one of the first projects of it’s kind in which Mark Anielski would complete an economic cost-benefit analysis and financial efficiency analysis with a professional architect (Douglas Sollows) with a ‘well-being-by-design’ approach to the design and budgeting of project. Sollows Architect Inc., had previously helped design the new Laurier Heights Community League hall, has rendered a conceptual site and facility plan with cost estimates that we feel are fairly priced at just under $2 million.
The Oaks Hills hall project analysis included:
- Business case analysis for the proposed community project.
- Project concept pre-design drawings and functional program scope.
- Project capital cost estimates and budget, including potential funding sources and targets.
- Annual operating costs and revenue estimates for long—term sustainability.
- Public/community input from community survey, open house and on-going public engagement plan.
The purpose of the Community Hub project is to design and build a community gathering place (community asset) that will help improve well–being and neighbourliness in our community in southwest Edmonton.