Commercial Architecture May 2019 - 8

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DEPARTMENT

| the architects

Steps Toward Better Senior Design
Borrow from the hospitality sector to develop effective and attractive senior-living environments.
Rockland Berg, AIA, NCARB, principal, three

recent national gathering of experts at

bine to create the desirable residential feel. A sense of

the Environments for Aging confer-

community should be perceptible, while scale

ence in Salt Lake City reinforced a few

remains personal, accessible, and comfortable. How

big ideas that undergird today's successful senior

many steps does it takes to walk from a residential

architecture and design. Attendees also saw how fast

unit's front door to shared amenities, for example?

senior living is evolving-perhaps faster than any

Are amenities congregated with smaller, smarter,

other commercial design market.

open commons spaces with effective lighting, proper

The biggest driver is the owner-operator's desire

acoustics, and flexible furnishings?

to include multiple generations in their communi-

More than ever, common areas must be adapt-

ties. The Greatest Generation stands on their door-

able and multipurpose. A breakfast grotto, for exam-

step just as baby boomers are pulling into the meta-

ple, can be transformed into a pre-dinner bar envi-

phorical driveway. Savvy owner-operators are

ronment or pre-function area. Both uses could be

applying proven hospitality models to these senior

nested within an entertainment area, such as a the-

consumers and then carefully tweaking them to

ater. Our designers frequently use nesting formulas

incorporate effective housing and healthcare

similar to those developed in the hospitality sector.

elements.

Overall, common areas-often called non-revenue

With 30 years of experience in high-end hospi-

spaces by owners-are getting smaller but smarter,

tality and senior living, our firm, three, Dallas

driving higher efficiencies, which lenders and opera-

(threearch.com), sees this formula as an adaptable

tors prefer.

and winning approach. It's driving the success of

5. More spaces for independent living. As common

established developers and owner-operators, while

areas condense, living units generally are getting

attracting new players. Winning architectural solu-

larger. Seniors demand better kitchens, spa bath-

tions for senior living and senior care start out as

rooms, and closets, reflecting the increasing influence of the women's perspective. Universal design

attractive hospitality concepts, which are carefully
choreographed to deliver best-in-class services. Here
is our approach:
1. Start with hospitality and customize for seniors.

Step one in developing effective senior-living facilities, such as the Harbor's Edge development in Norfolk, VA, is to use hospitality frameworks in which architecture serves as
a backdrop for graceful, unobtrusive service. Rendering courtesy three

The best senior living builds on hospitality frame-

elements more frequently apply to living units, too,
as operators innovate so residents may gracefully age
in place.
This contrasts with assisted-living, memory-care,

works where architecture serves as a backdrop for graceful,

connecting residents to the outdoors. Color, texture, and

and skilled-nursing facilities, where residential units are

unobtrusive service. Architectural programming, layout,

acoustics enhance the senior's world of diminishing

getting smaller and more thoughtfully designed. Again,

and circulation establish a support system for those seem-

capacities, weaving positive and stimulating experiences.

design for fewer steps-but upgrade and add amenities to

ingly effortless, yet highly effective, services. These envi-

Material and daylighting can help seniors with recogni-

common spaces to encourage healthy socializing.

ronments enable care providers to spend energy building

tion, wayfinding, wellness, and safety.

one-on-one, personal experiences that seniors crave.

3. After experience comes service. If technology and

discovery and enjoyment every day. They're flexible and

2. Focus design on desired experience. Quality senior

architecture get in the way of excellent service (acoustics

allow managed change and optimal service delivery. It's

architecture is experientially designed as fabric contribut-

are poor, flooring is uneven, lighting is insufficient) it

a unique set of needs and a valuable opportunity for

ing to the place's personality and choreography. It's all

undermines the service focus. Strive to optimize flexibili-

architects to spark innovation and advancement, whether

about how landscaping, architecture, and interiors ulti-

ty and make design unobtrusive. As an example, more

it's a renovation project or a greenfield development. CA

mately make residents feel. Those feelings drive repeat

senior facilities now have open display kitchens, which are

visits to hotels and restaurants. Similarly, they make

entertaining and offer sensory stimulations such as cook-

senior communities successful, from living unit to dining

ing aromas that arouse older appetites. Many residents

an architecture practice headquartered in Dallas. Involved in

experience and beyond.

find these setups loud and distracting, however. If used,

senior-living architecture for more than two decades, Rocky is well

Lighting, for example, is vital to crafting the right

In general, the best senior facilities offer a sense of

Rockland Berg, AIA, is founding partner of three (threearch.com),

open kitchens require appropriate materials and acousti-

known throughout the market and speaks frequently on develop-

mood. In living units, floorplans are more open, often

cal and architectural barriers for a positive experience.

ing trends, including on NBC Nightly News. His firm's national

with taller ceilings, extra daylight, and generous windows

4. Create the feeling of home. Scale and familiarity com-

portfolio includes senior living, hospitality, and residential projects.

MAY 2019

COMMERCI A L A RCHI T EC T UREM AG A ZINE.COM

http://www.threearch.com http://www.threearch.com

Commercial Architecture May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Commercial Architecture May 2019