Environments for Aging - Fall 2017 - 61

REMODEL/RENOVATION COMPETITION
FINALIST

The Preserve at Granite Farms Club Room MEDIA, PA.
Submitted by: SFCS Architects PHILADELPHIA
Cost per square foot: Not available

BEFORE

Design team: Ken Karmeris
(Acts Retirement-Life
Communities); Melissa Pritchard,
project principal; Amy Carpenter,
project manager; Carie
Shingleton, interior designer;
structural, mechanical, electrical
engineer (SFCS Architects);
Warfel Construction (general
contractor)
Photography: Alise O'Brien
Photography 2017 (after images)
Granite Farms Estates, an ACTS Re-

the space was still closed off from the

to provide more variety in the dining

tirement-Life Community (Media, Pa.),

corridor, and wasn't very welcoming.

program.

is an established Pennsylvania retirement

Granite Farms held resident focus groups

community near the historic Delaware

to determine what amenities would be

design team pushed the boundary of this

County village of Wawa and 30 minutes

desirable, both in the new apartments as

space out into the corridor, thus acting as

away from Center City Philadelphia.

well as the common spaces. The results

a wayfinding beacon to break up the long,

Built in the late 1980s, the campus was in

of these meetings are reflected in the new

narrow corridors of the existing architec-

need of a reinvention. The purpose of the

space. The interior design is perhaps a bit

ture. The reception of this space has been

renovations was to provide an upgraded

of a departure from other senior living

overwhelmingly positive and 85 percent of

Oakbridge Terrace (assisted living) prod-

communities, and even other spaces

the units have been sold since construc-

uct in a neighborhood style on the first

within Granite Farms, and the design

tion was completed two months ago.

and second floors and to create large,

promotes social interaction between the

high-end independent living apartments

residents.

on the third and fourth floors. The club

The new and improved club room

room space was part of this campus-

creates an open and inviting space

wide major renovation project; the build-

that encompasses a screening room,

ing where the club room is located is the

beverage/bar counter, gaming, and

farthest away from the main clubhouse

lounge areas. The room functions as an

space, which made those apartments the

event space, where residents can watch

least desirable. Granite Farms decided to

sporting events, movies, derby races, and

create more warm and welcoming com-

more, or just a place to come together

mon spaces that people really wanted to

with other residents and enjoy fellow-

spend time in.

ship. A catering kitchen is provided for

Prior to the renovation, the com-

potluck dinners, and with the addition

munity took over one apartment and

of dumbwaiter access to a commercial

converted it into a "club room" to try to

kitchen downstairs, this space can be

give residents a destination. However,

turned into a pop-up dining venue

To enhance the welcoming feeling, the

Jury comments:
* Love the expansion of the space
and looking beyond the previous
boundaries
* Having the space open to the
corridor (essentially visually deleting
a corridor) is a welcome change.
Kudos!
* A comfortable and visually
interesting space. The connection
to the corridor provides a sense of
enclosure and privacy, yet remains
open and inviting.   
* The spaces feel much more unified
and fluid, while different uses and
functions are articulated through
changes in wall and ceiling materials.

BEFORE

Environments for Aging * special supplement

61
Environments for Aging - Fall 2017

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