Environments for Aging - Winter 2023 - 18

Kaitlin Veenstra
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURE-SUSTAINABILITY,
RYAN A+E INC. (CHICAGO)
I
N HER ROLE as Ryan A+E Inc.'s national
sustainability leader, Kaitlin
(Kaity) Veenstra plays an integral
role in setting the sustainability strategy
for the fi rm. Her environmental passion
has sparked many new initiatives at Ryan
A+E that have directly impacted senior
living projects, from photovoltaics and
wellness certifications to research into
smart thermostats to improve energy effi
ciency and operations.
In the past two years, she's advised on
more than 11 senior living projects across
the country, including achieving LEED
Silver certification for the Presbyterian
Homes Marvella campus in St. Paul,
Minn., and navigating the Austin Energy
Green Building Program at Grand Living at
the Grove in Austin, Texas. At the latter, she
helped the team identify value-add strategies
that aligned with the operator's brand
goals such as high-efficiency residential
appliances, electric vehicle infrastructure,
and healthy interior fi nish materials.
Veenstra brings her expertise in LEED,
Fitwel, and WELL rating systems to every
project to help spark new ideas. For two
new urban senior living communities, the
406,000-square-foot Clarendale Clayton
in St. Louis and the 369,000-square-foot
Clarendale Six Corners in Chicago, she
helped owners navigate local code requirements
and ordinances regarding sustainable
design to make strategic choices
that delivered a holistic, positive impact on
both the environment and well-being of
residents and staff .
18 | winter 2023
Clarendale Six Corners
Specifi cally, Clarendale Six Corners features
a reconfi guration of amenity spaces
from the ground level to the third fl oor, leveraging
the tight urban site constraints as
a value-add opportunity to reduce walking
distance, facilitate resident engagement
through multifunctional spaces, and reimagine
outdoor terraces to bring nature
and respite into the urban environment.
By incorporating a green roof into the project,
the design simultaneously addresses
stormwater runoff while enhancing views
from resident units. Energy-effi cient mechanical
systems along with low-flow
plumbing fi xtures also helped the project
meet Chicago's Sustainable Development
Policy while reducing operating costs.
Additionally, as design architect on
Clarendale Clayton, Veenstra incorporated
ways to encourage resident activity,
community building, and access to nature
through strategically placed and programmed
courtyards and outdoor terraces.
Described by her colleagues as a grassroots
powerhouse, she's involved in a
variety of organizations including the
U.S. Green Building Council and Chicago
Sustainable Construction Leaders.
Veenstra serves as a role model for other
team members and future industry professionals
who share her passion for creating
a more resilient world.
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Environments for Aging - Winter 2023

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