Environments for Aging - Spring 2015 - 53

ADVERTORIAL

Q&A

don't want to give that up
simply because they are in
a rehabilitation center.
As designers, we need
to ensure that buildings
are efficient. HGA utilizes
Lean principles to ensure
efficient design that will
have a return on investment
over the life of the building
for our clients. We design
a great place to rehab that
makes financial sense for
the organization.

with Alanna Carter

Principal
HGA Architects and Engineers
What do you
consider the biggest
misconception about
designing spaces for
seniors?
The biggest misconception
is that older adults lose
their desire for good design
and pay no attention to
aesthetics. I often see
new buildings where the
architects and operators are
not applying the best design,
feeling that good is good
enough. At HGA, we believe
that all humans desire to live
in or access well-designed
spaces. These are beloved
spaces where thought goes

into every detail within the
environment. We want the
spaces to reflect the people
that we are designing for,
their culture, and their values
so we can create a space
or building to honor people
right where they are.
In what sector of senior
living do you expect to
see the most growth in
the next few years?
Transitional care or
rehabilitation. With
healthcare reform, hospitals
are partnering with a senior
provider to be part of the
continuum of care. If the

care provider can provide
the same aftercare services
as the hospital but at a
fraction of the costs, and
as long as the outcomes
remain consistent, it's a
win-win for the hospital,
care provider, and
patient. No one wants to
be in a hospital, we all
would prefer a beautifully
designed rehab center that
looks and feels like a hotel.
How will the design of
those spaces change
to meet the demands
of today's senior
consumers?
They will be amenity
focused. I'm seeing
concierge services within
a transitional care unit that
will bring you Starbucks
coffee if that's what you
desire. The consumer of
today and into the future
is more demanding and
focused on personalized
service. For example, a
shower in all of the resident
rooms is a must-have
and no longer considered
a luxury. The building's
infrastructure must have
a robust Wi-Fi network to
support Netflix or Amazon
Prime as the consumers

What are some
challenges your firm
is facing? How do
you overcome those
obstacles? 
Everyone is trying to get
into the senior market
right now and many firms
don't understand the
nuances of designing
these spaces. We always
know there's going to be
competition, so we hope
to compete with firms
that are knowledgeable
or passionate about the
product and the people
they are designing for.
Because our knowledge
of the business is so deep,
clients often ask if we've
worked in a nursing home
or older adult building at
the point of care. We say
no, but are understandably
flattered. Being passionate
and curious about
what we do best is
how we overcome that
obstacle of competition.
We want to work with
clients who appreciate
the thoughtfulness and
understanding that we
bring, clients who align with
our culture and values.
www.hga.com
http://www.hga.com http://www.hga.com
Environments for Aging - Spring 2015

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