Environments for Aging - Winter 2021 - 9

letter from the editor
The place to be
Establishing a true sense of community requires a
design that's reflective of the people being served
EDITORIAL
ADVISORY BOARD
Lori Alford
Avanti Senior Living
CC Andrews
Quantum Age Collaborative
David Banta
Wiencek + Associates
Architects + Planners
Laura Busalacchi
Brookdale Senior Living
Vassar Byrd
Rose Villa Senior Living
Margaret Calkins
Ideas Institute
Daniel J. Cinelli
Perkins Eastman
Michelle Clark
Domus Development
Andy Coelho
Sunrise Senior Living
Alexis Denton
Perkins Eastman
Mitch Elliott
RDG Planning & Design
Lorraine Hiatt
ImprovAging
Steve Lindsey
Garden Spot Communities
Dean Maddalena
StudioSix5
Eric McRoberts
RLPS Architects
Robert C. Pfauth
Erdman
Jane Rohde
JSR Associates Inc.
Jill Schroeder
Pope Architects
Rob Simonetti
SWBR
O
VER THE YEARS, we've seen senior living environments evolve in many ways-most
notably shifting away from institutional settings and toward design-forward projects.
Despite this, there's still something missing at times. The industry continues to
struggle with establishing a true sense of community, spaces that compel residents to
leave their units and come together. It's a topic that was explored during the closing
keynote panel I moderated at the 2021 EFA Expo & Conference in Chattanooga, Tenn. Panelist
Steve Lindsey, CEO of Garden Spot Communities, referred to the concept of placemaking, or
the process of creating quality environments where people want to be. Essentially, he noted,
the industry is doing a great job of delivering beautiful spaces but doesn't always take the next
step of considering the ways those spaces might be used.
The key is designing environments to support, say, 10 possible uses that will keep residents
moving in and out of them from morning to night, permitting the natural ability to interact
with one another and build relationships on a daily basis. It's that kind of place we all need and
crave on a human level.
Part of the process of achieving that vision is ensuring environments feel authentic, reflect
a local culture or geography, and establish " home " on a more meaningful level. They need to
represent the people who will live there.
I love two examples right here in this issue: The Glen at Scripps Ranch on page 16 and St. Rita
Square on page 18. The Scripps Ranch project offers a wonderful example of site-specific design
with an eye on centralized spaces for gathering. Meanwhile, St. Rita Square is a compelling
case study on revitalizing a community, celebrating local culture and heritage, and providing
comfortable spaces for residents and neighbors to meet and spend time together.
These types of solutions help solve the placemaking challenge-and we're working to do the
same. You'll notice a new look for Environments for Aging in this issue including a new logo for
our brand and a comprehensive redesign of the magazine. Guided by Creative Director Jonathan
Marsland and Design Lead Wendi Van Eldik, our team has worked diligently for months
to identify an aesthetic and overall design approach that better reflects our design community
and, yes, contributes to a greater sense of place.
This new design will allow us to present our editorial content in a more sophisticated and
reader-friendly way. Meanwhile, over the next year, this elevation of our brand will be rolled
out across our website and conference, as well. It's an important piece of our ongoing efforts
to create a space where we come together as an industry year-round, that's representative of
what you do, and a place where you truly want to be. We look forward to getting your feedback
and guidance as we move forward.
JENNIFER KOVACS SILVIS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
JENNIFER.SILVIS@
EMERALDX.COM
winter 2021 | 9

Environments for Aging - Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Environments for Aging - Winter 2021