Projects
Village at Penn State – Palmer Park
State College, PA
Hospitality was the focus of this project, which implemented long-anticipated updates to the community center and outdoor amenities for this University Based Retirement Community (UBRC). Opened in 2004, the Village at Penn State had not implemented planned second phase additions until after merging with Liberty Lutheran Services in 2012.
A Unique Partnership Creates Palmer Park Outdoor Amenities
Palmer Park is a first-of-its kind fully landscaped park and gardens, featuring professionally contoured golf putting and practice areas, a village green and a multi-purpose area. Designed and completed by the Arnold Palmer Design Company, Palmer Park includes a nine-hole putting course plus a couple of additional holes that bear all the aspects and storied history of the Arnold Palmer signature brand. The synthetic green requires less maintenance than grass, particularly factoring in the region’s sometimes challenging weather conditions.
Palmer Park is complemented by adjacent gardens, walkways and a bistro terrace for al fresco dining. The terrace features a pergola system for sun control as well as outdoor dining and fire pit seating. The park includes a grass lawn area for natural wellness activities such as croquet and yoga, or special events; a town-square type clock; and a bocce court.
Implementing Phase 2 Community Center Additions
The community center was designed in Phase 1 to function effectively when the Village opened, but was planned from the start to be reoriented and expanded as the community grew. The expansion provides a centralized community hub that creates the desired entry experience and connects resident living spaces with amenities and services.
A new entry drive and porte cochere lead into the commons addition which includes a new main lobby, reception, and marketing suite. The existing library was renovated to expand views from the lobby towards Penn State University’s neighboring Beaver Stadium. Additionally, existing corridors received fresh finishes, and the former multi-purpose space and creamery have become the bistro, a new casual dining option featuring a hearth oven and display cooking.
The final piece of the puzzle is a new one-story, 6,200 SF community building. At the center of this building is a 165 seat multipurpose auditorium with raised stage to host, among other things, on-site Road Scholar classes and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) classes. This community gathering space also serves as a conditioned connector between the existing skilled care building, personal care household and the rest of the Village at Penn State community. Other than the cottages on the perimeter of the campus, all buildings are now connected as a result of this community building addition.
Woodcrest Villa, Viva Centre
Lancaster, PA
Viva, often translated to “long live,” is an apt description for this welcome center focused on vitality and community engagement. Feathered into a hillside between existing apartment wings, this expansion more than doubled the size of the community center. The welcome center at the main entrance features a two-story lobby and pre-gathering area outside the new 300-person performing arts center. The fitness components of the wellness center include an aquatics center with lap pool and warm water therapy spa, a fitness classroom, cardio equipment room and lockers with changing rooms. The upper level includes a bistro, beauty shop, theater, billiards and terrace with dining grill area and bocce courts.
Awards: Publication in Environments for Aging Design Showcase
Photo Credit: Nathan Cox Photography
Learn more about Wellness
Carolina Village
Hendersonville, NC
This 60-unit assisted living residence was an addition to the existing health center. All of the resident studios are 430 square feet and have walk-in closets, accessible private bathrooms and a kitchenette. The units are configured so that a piece of furniture, such as an entertainment center, can function as a room divider separating the living and sleeping areas while providing privacy for the bedroom. A generous balcony on the main level provides views of surrounding meadows and landscaped courtyard areas. The project also included a multipurpose room, as well as a physical therapy addition to the existing skilled care building for use by both the assisted living and skilled care residents.
Photo Credit: Larry Lefever Photography
Asbury Place, Arbor Acres
Winston-Salem, NC
This new three-story, 60-unit assisted living residence embraces both the arts and technology to create an environment rich in amenities and beauty. The gracious residence includes an atrium dining room, commissary, library, fitness/rehabilitation therapy center, multi-purpose room and day spa. Six two-bedroom apartments, expected to accommodate couples, are designed to be convertible into 12 studio apartments if needed to respond to future market needs. The therapy/fitness center includes occupational and physical therapy areas, private treatment rooms and a therapeutic pool with an underwater treadmill. The 2,000 SF spa features not only European showers and spa tubs, but also massage therapy, guided imagery, aromatherapy and towel warmers.
Award: Exhibition and Publication in AIA/LeadingAge Design for Aging Review, Publication in Environments for Aging Design Showcase
Photo Credit: Larry Lefever Photography
Falcons Landing
Potomac Falls, VA
Community center updates encompassed health and fitness areas and casual dining venues. The introduction of a new café led to renovations to the adjacent clubroom. The newly appointed Compass Club offers made-to-order and grab-and-go items all day, as well as cocktails later in the day. The showpiece of the new Woodburn Café is the display kitchen featuring a wood-fired oven and grill. Other improvements include the introduction of a bakery with takeout service in the former café space, the addition of a business center for resident use, renovations to the lounge area and expansion of the rehabilitation department. On the opposite side of the community center, the renovated and expanded wellness center incorporates a well-appointed fitness gym and aerobics studio on the first floor and new health clinic, beauty salon and multi-purpose room on the second floor.
Awards: Design Environments for Aging Remodel – Renovation Competition Finalists
Photo Credit: Nathan Cox Photography
Tel Hai Community, StoneCroft Apartments
Honey Brook, PA
Master planning for a hilltop parcel adjacent to the existing community resulted in the StoneCroft neighborhood of 105 apartments and community center spaces including casual dining with display kitchen, a 450-seat multi-purpose room for cultural performances, worship services, conferences and banquets and a wellness center. The competition-size pool is also used by the Twin Valley Aquatic Club and High School swimming teams. The pool features six lanes equipped with starting blocks, a timing/scoring system and two levels of spectator seating. Master planning for a hilltop parcel adjacent to the existing community resulted in the StoneCroft neighborhood of 105 apartments and community center spaces including casual dining with display kitchen, a 450-seat multi-purpose room for cultural performances, worship services, conferences and banquets and a wellness center. The competition-size pool is also used by the Twin Valley Aquatic Club and High School swimming teams. The pool features six lanes equipped with starting blocks, a timing/scoring system and two levels of spectator seating.
Photo Credit: Nathan Cox Photography
Kendal at Granviꞁle
Granville, OH
The expansion for this CCRC/Life Plan Community involved a 32-bed skilled nursing addition, 7 new assisted living residences, 24 new apartments and a new multi-purpose space and support areas including a cafe. Additions and renovations resulted in three new 11-bed skilled care households with the existing skilled care converted to six assisted living units. The new apartment wing includes parking underneath. The addition maintain the simplicity of the existing campus aesthetic with straightforward solutions reflecting Quaker values.
Awards: Publication in Environments for Aging Design Showcase
Photo Credit: Larry Lefever Photography
Covenant Crossing at Brethren Village
Lititz, PA
Master planning resulted in a multi-phased CCRC expansion, beginning with 135 new apartments, dining room expansion and a new coffee shop. Phase II projects included a new 120-unit skilled nursing center, conversion of existing skilled nursing to assisted living and a new welcome center. Skilled nursing is organized into six households and includes dedicated memory care and post-acute care neighborhoods. Two of the assisted living neighborhoods are also dedicated to memory care. The welcome center houses administrative offices and a multi-functional assembly hall.
Photo Credit: Larry Lefever Photography