Environments for Aging - Fall 2019 - 72

THE SPARK

Coming
home
Michael Fittz, project architect
with Arrive Architecture Group,
began his career focused on
multifamily projects before
finding his path to senior living

'm still in my infancy in architecture compared to
those with 30, 40, or

EFAmagazine.com * Fall 2019

played the role of caretaker for my great
grandfather who was suffering the effects of
dementia. While my memories of those years
are positive, I'm certain some of the enjoyment of his final years was forfeited by them
as they handled the demands of caring for an
aging loved one, from meals, cleaning, and
assisting with bathing to trips to doctors. I often wonder if that time could have been more
enjoyable for all if there had been quality
care available, in an environment designed to
meet his needs as he battled dementia.
So, while I did not set out as a high school
student to design senior living communities,
my education and life experiences have both
served to inform and develop a passion for
senior living that drives my career today. I
still find there's no more exciting space to
design than where people live. Our homes
are where we eat, sleep, play, raise families,
and relax. It's where we stay when we're sick
or healthy and where we grow older. More

than that, our homes hold our most intimate
memories with those we love.
I strive to create spaces that allow the
elders of our society to age with grace and
dignity. By considering how we function in
our traditional homes, I work to replicate
the aspects of home that spark the most
fulfillment-meal times, kitchen and dining
interactions, hobbies-into my projects. All
of these are opportunities to drive social
interaction and stimulate the senses, which
are proven to positively impact the health
and well-being of seniors. I believe this industry is just getting started and I'm excited
to see the positive impact we can have on
the next generation of elders. EFA

If you're interested in sharing the story of what
ignited your passion for senior living design,
contact Executive Editor Anne DiNardo at anne.
dinardo@emeraldexpo.com.

NIEN-KEN ALEC LU

more years invested
in their careers. I got
my license at age
27, and I've been
registered a short
four years. Presently, I lead a team at Arrive Architecture Group
in Bedford, Texas, that designs independent
living, assisted living, and memory care communities across the U.S.
My interest in architecture began during
my freshman year of high school when I
took an architectural graphics class. Over
the course of that semester, we designed
a single-family home, creating construction
drawings and a detailed section model, and
my love of architecture and housing was
born. I took several more design courses
in high school before deciding to pursue a
bachelor's in interior design, followed by a
master's degree in architecture.
When I came to Arrive in 2012, the economy
was still struggling to get back on its feet,
and I was excited just to land a paying job in
architecture. With my interest in housing, I
initially began working on multifamily projects,
but after a couple of years and several great
projects for senior living environments, I began
to refine my skills and focus on this sector.
I found that my passion for seniors is
rooted in my experiences with my own
family. I grew up in a small town where, at
the time, the options for senior living were
incredibly limited. In fact, most of the context
in which senior living was mentioned was
negative. That was where people were "put"
and where it "smelled like a hospital." As an
alternative, my parents and grandparents

http://www.EFAmagazine.com

Environments for Aging - Fall 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Environments for Aging - Fall 2019