Designer Forum: A new construction within an existing senior living campus offers opportunity to add dimension – August/September 2024

By Corey Cappello

Awarded the planning, programming, architecture and interior design of Ridge Creek, a new independent living building at Heritage Community of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Perkins Eastman worked to build upon the legacy of the community’s vibrant and purpose-filled lifestyle for local seniors. The design of Ridge Creek and the entire Heritage Community pays homage to the city’s industrial history, incorporating metal, brick and warm woods reminiscent of the old factories around Kalamazoo. Neutral tones of grey, black and brown are thoughtfully curated in classic combinations, complemented by pops of color in the artwork and furniture. Natural light and views of the landscape beyond are framed by floor-to-ceiling windows in each of Ridge Creek’s amenity spaces within the 112,100-square-foot new build, nestled on the 30-acre campus.

A THOUGHTFUL AND PURPOSEFUL DESIGN
Working within an existing life plan community offered overwhelming insight as to what was missing from today’s resident experience. Adaptable amenity spaces, upscale dining, a forward-facing approach to health and wellness, and additional indoor-outdoor living spaces laid the foundation of what became the new four-story, 60-unit residential living building.

The Ridge Creek site’s design expands upon Heritage Community’s existing walking path circuit, with the intent to eventually seamlessly interface into the city of Kalamazoo’s master plan for new trails and outdoor wellness amenities along Portage Creek at the western edge of the property. Optimizing views and daylighting, the building’s orientation takes advantage of both, with the long-term integration of the community in mind.

With a revitalized downtown and an existing campus in which to blend, the architectural narrative set the tone for what would become the design language throughout the senior living community. Utilizing familiar materials in contemporary ways honors both the history and modernization of Kalamazoo.

Building on the contextual framework, the interior further enhances the story of materiality by referencing symmetrical lines and the juxtaposition of color and scale. The Towncenter, deliberately planned as an open foyer to welcome guests and embrace residents, simultaneously warranted intimate pockets for connection that remain accessible and expansive within the larger space. Vertical architectural features and material changes on the floor define the central promenade, aiding in natural wayfinding throughout the space.

An upscale dining venue with an open kitchen, The Gallery offers banquette and group seating arrangements with views of the entry court and lush foliage in the background. Individual seating looking into the open-concept kitchen provides an immersive culinary experience. Organic and sophisticated materials adorn The Gallery, including cementitious wood-fiber acoustic panels, natural stone and reclaimed wood, utilizing sustainable and eco-friendly products in upscale and elegant ways.

The Vault, Ridge Creek’s cocktail bar, provides the backdrop of The Towncenter, outfitted in a combination of refined and natural textures. The space invites both guests and residents to experience a variety of connection points before making their way to the southwest-facing outdoor terrace, The Upper Bank. The terrace overlooks a natural prairie and provides for excellent sunset viewing.

DESIGN DETAILS
Custom metal clad shelving, warm wood reminiscent of the white oak trees surrounding the site, and a combination of antiqued mirror tile and handmade brick set the stage for the rich industrial history of Kalamazoo to shine. Incorporating modern LED lighting fixtures, contemporary furniture styles and clean, simple forms balances the traditional nature of the city’s history with the more modern features that were missing within the community.

Curating thoughtfully sourced local artwork, ranging from salvaged door knockers to handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces, also contributes to the robust and renowned legacy of Heritage Community.

Cognizant of budget and pricing fluctuations resulting from the pandemic, the interiors reflect a “quality over quantity” approach. A creative balance of blending selective high price tag materials with more affordable selections minimized what the industry often sees too much of: value engineering.

Utilizing both modular and broadloom running-line carpets lends an upscale feel at an economical price point. A 36-ounce solution-dyed nylon broadloom from Atlas Masland was specified in amenity spaces, with J+J’s Atmospheric carpet tile spanning the resident corridors.

Likewise, evaluating interior walls for curated locations of specialty materials supplemented the overall approach. Maya Romanoff’s hand-inlaid micro-thin wood veneer wallcovering, Ajiro Grand Scale Chevron, adorns the walls of The Den, while the open kitchen in The Gallery features a matte black ceramic tile by Ceramic Technics to balance the costs and provide a nondescript backdrop for the culinary team. Offsetting the standard subway tile, the front face of the dining counter is furnished in a picket mosaic cut from volcanic basalt, paired with a deep burgundy and rich black Cipollito Ondulato natural stone slab top, layering textures to meet the artisanal, handcrafted aesthetic. Adjacent to the dining counter, Anatolia’s beveled Obsidian Glass tile provides a contemporary interpretation of antique glass flanked by stained white oak in a rift-cut veneer as the setting for a custom upholstered banquette.

To add visual drama to The Towncenter, TileBar’s Nero Marquina polished marble subway tile was selected to border TileBar’s Phantasm Harvest Cream mixed marble mosaic, featuring Nero, Carrara, Sky Gray and Botticino marbles sourced from around the world. Both are sealed with Slip Doctors’ Non-Slip Tile Treatment to reduce glare and surpass ADA/ANSI floor guidelines.

To contrast the geometric pattern of triangles that form six-pointed stars, a more organic porcelain tile was specified as the field tile, mimicking the look of limestone with natural visual movement that depicts the authenticity and sophistication of the design narrative. Cantilevered smoked glass globe pendants hang above a live-edge, ebonized maple top and bronzed carved metal bar front, featuring a brushed brass toe kick and integrated LED lighting that sits symmetrically against the backdrop of The Towncenter.

A generous white oak-cased opening adorns The Den, exemplifying the grandeur of the historic industrial buildings throughout Kalamazoo. Installed surrounding the expansive, three-sided gas fireplace, TileBar’s handmade clay brick, Easton Summit, has textured vertical lines that add dimension and a handcrafted feel to the otherwise elevated space. Local salvaged doorknobs and knockers were sourced and framed as part of the artwork package, honoring distinct neighborhoods within the community.

A DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE
The independent living apartments were designed to reflect the people who will live there and include state-of-the-art home automation with climate control, lighting systems and in-home security. Keyless electronic door locks, in-unit touchscreen control panels, and Alexa, Sonos and Echo Show are all integrated smarthome features within each apartment. Personal balconies and walk-out patios for each apartment provide ease of access both indoors and out, connecting residents with extensive natural light and the surrounding exterior environment.

Completed in 2023, Ridge Creek brings a revolutionary approach to retirement living, incorporating sustainable attributes and high-end design in an approachable and sophisticated way. Sustainable attributes include a stamped concrete terrace, locally sourced masonry and windows, and wood construction.

An offering of amenities and services that otherwise did not exist on campus were met with architectural features that integrate the importance between past and present, creating dynamic opportunities for residents to make connections.

Copyright 2024 Floor Focus

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