Environments for Aging - Winter 2023 - 26

project details
Project: Thrive at Montvale
Location: Montvale, N.J.
Completion date: April 2022
Owner: Thrive Senior Living, Pike
Construction Company, AEW
Capital Management
Beauty and the Barber is a
full-service salon for both
residents and their families.
The use of natural elements
inside the space continues
the community's theme of
indoor/outdoor harmony.
the balcony and through the dining area to the
Social Court, " Knox says. " You're really able to
participate [with nature] through layers of space. "
Blurred lines
The outdoor aesthetic extends inside the property,
as well. " We used a lot of wood and natural
stone. One of the first things you see when you
walk in is a huge fireplace, so big you could get
in it, " says Jennifer VaghyJones, senior designer
with StudioSix5 (Austin, Texas), the interior design
firm on the project. The massive stone wall
that the fireplace is built into carries over to the
dining room, serves as the backdrop of the bar,
and juts out into the Social Court. A decorative
moss wall also greets visitors and residents upon
entry, and high ceilings can be found throughout
the buildings.
The exterior architecture draws inspiration
from the saltbox homes popular in the Northeast
in the 17th and 18th centuries, with a distinctive
roofline originally designed to shed
snow load. But bringing the past to life was
never the goal. " We don't see a lot of progressive
design in senior living, " Ragsdale says. " And I
think some of that is well intentioned-maybe to
better mirror the environments residents grew
up in. But it's been our experience that you're
not really fooling a resident into thinking
they're at home. It's clear the environment is
very different from the home they came from.
Our goal is to celebrate that, to create a more
modern aesthetic but without going so far that
it's cold or uninviting. "
He points to the liberal use of storefront
glass, the metal wire railings on the balconies,
26 | winter 2023
and a " residential masonry siding look. " Combined
with the saltbox roofline, Ragsdale says,
" It's a unique aesthetic. The more you study it,
the more interesting details you see. "
The indoor/outdoor aesthetics and amenities
are not limited to independent and assisted living,
either. Memory care residents enjoy similar
stone and wood finishes, though with more
durable materials and lighter finishes to avoid
confusing or disorienting patterns or shadow
effects. Additionally, they have an indoor fireplace,
outdoor fire pit, and water feature, all
with appropriate safety accommodations.
Memory care has its own version of the Social
Court, as well, which includes a two-hole
miniature golf course that's proved to be a big
hit. " We've gotten some jealous looks from our
assisted living and independent living residents
that they have golf in memory care, "
Ragsdale says.
Onward and outward
Ragsdale says that since 2008, Thrive has completed
42 projects and no two are the same.
The brand focuses on urban and suburban infill
sites. And while leadership likes to create a
fresh look with each community, he says that
at least one element from the Montvale project
will be used again. " The concept of a social
court-making that large investment in a blended
indoor and outdoor space-we will 100 percent
replicate that, " he says.
Kristin D. Zeit is a contributing editor at Environments
for Aging and can be reached at kristinzeit@
gmail.com.
Total building area:
211,500 sq. ft.
Total construction cost:
Approx. $55 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $275
Architect: Reach Architects
(design architect), HQW
Architects (architect of record)
Interior designer: StudioSix5
General contractor: Pike
Construction Co.
Art/pictures: Metropolitan
Gallery
Carpet/flooring: Mohawk
Contract Flooring, J&J Flooring
Group, Milliken Flooring
Ceiling/wall systems:
Armstrong, Parasoleil, Ekena
Millwork
Fabric/textiles: Arc Com, Burch,
Coral Fabrics, Pallas, Maharam,
Pollack
Furniture-seating/case goods:
Kellex, Fairfield, H Contract, CIX
Custom, Charter Furniture
Lighting: Ultralights, Hudson
Valley Lighting, Hammerton
Studio, Arteriors, Elk Lighting,
PBH Hospitality
Signage/wayfinding: Takeform
Surfaces-solid/other: Cambria
Wallcoverings: Innovations,
Tri-kes
Wood paneling: Duchateau
For an expanded list, visit
EFAmagazine.com. Project details are
provided by the design team and not
vetted by Environments for Aging.
efamagazine.com
TOBIN DAVIES PHOTOGRAPHY
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