Projects
Presbyterian Homes, The Moorings
Arlington Heights, IL
Master planning for Presbyterian Homes involved evaluation of services and existing infrastructure at several campuses located in and around Chicago. The Moorings at Arlington Heights is the first campus for implementation.
Strategic planning for this campus focused on rightsizing the property by optimizing the ratios between the levels of care and product offerings. The result is a new assisted living residence, an assisted living memory care residence and a new chapel and commons spaces.
The proposed chapel building is positioned to take advantage of views to the pond, while creating an enclosed courtyard area accessible from the new assisted living memory care and existing skilled nursing buildings. Its position also makes the chapel readily accessible to all levels of care while improving circulation between them. Designed to properly support the worship and fellowship needs of the community, the chapel provides
a flexible environment that can support multipurpose events and group activities as well.
The replacement assisted living buildings respond to market expectations for gracious, supportive residences, including a specialized building for residents living with dementia. The four-story, 122,639 square foot assisted-living building is comprised of 70 apartments that are mostly one-bedroom spaces as well as a few two-bedroom residences to accommodate couples. The ground level is being used for covered parking, as well as generously sized employee spaces. The restaurant style dining room has lake views and incorporates a demonstration kitchen. The open display kitchen design integrates video cameras so that cooking demonstrations can be shared with the entire campus.
Plans for future phases encompass additional apartments and duplex cottages. The new housing will provide larger unit options for residents while helping the owner optimize the mix of product offerings.
Awards: Publication in Environments for Aging Design Showcase
Greencroft Communities
Goshen, IN
Campus planning for multiple Life Plan Communities in three states provided a forum for review of the existing properties and infrastructure and development of individual master plans that align with Greencroft’s long-term strategic vision. Master plans were provided for six senior living and care communities in Indiana, two in Ohio and one in Michigan.
The design solutions for the communities, ranging from 38 to 1,150 residents, encompass skilled care, assisted living, memory care, independent living options and commons spaces.
The master plan exercises also explored unique opportunities such as a seniors’ outdoor adventure camp, senior oriented RV park and a maple-syrup production facility. We developed a new carriage-home style of hybrid home which provides an affordable option for a ground floor parking garage.
The Langford at College Station
College Station, TX
The Langford is a successful satellite community model for serving a secondary market.
Recognizing market size, a nearby sister community and the challenges of a greenfield development in today’s marketplace, Methodist Retirement Communities opted for a smaller satellite Life Plan Community enhanced with existing resources in the surrounding community. Partnerships with a local country club, the church next door and MRC’s Bryan community supplement on-site services allowing for less initial financial commitment. Phase 1 includes hybrid homes in the form of condo-style flats with under building parking and interior corridor links to the clubhouse. The clubhouse also connects to assisted living suites and a memory care household. Skilled nursing care and short-term rehabilitation will be provided through a partnership with the sister community.
Hybrid Homes 2.0: Corridor Links to Clubhouse
Developing the community around condo-style hybrid flats allowed for connections between the homes and the clubhouse. The hybrid homes, like the rest of the community, are a smaller scale model than traditional apartment buildings. These residences provide many of the benefits typically found in cottage homes such as covered parking, multiple exposures and private outdoor space, but like many apartment buildings are connected back to the clubhouse for easy and comfortable access to community amenities.
The design of the hybrid homes provides an intimate setting for neighbors to get to know each other since each building has its own “gathering room” for parties, card games, etc. Each residential floor is comprised of six condo-style flats, which eliminates long hallways, increases resident privacy and provides a small scale setting that fosters interaction and a sense of community.
Learn More About Hybrid HomesAwards: Featured in Environments for Aging Design Showcase
Photo Credits: Nathan Cox Photography and Alise O’Brien Photography
Village on the Isle
Venice, Florida
This community is comprised of several distinct and separate buildings that have, to various degrees, outlived their marketability. The master plan addressed these issues in a multi-phased, financially sensitive manner. The first phase of the plan includes replacement skilled nursing, new apartment building over parking, incremental unit renovations, conversion of an existing floor into dedicated memory care and creating a new grand entry. Later phases include a new community center, additional apartment buildings and site improvements.