Designer Forum: Thoma-Holec Design engages residents to enhance a senior living community’s design – June 2024

By Keith Stanton

Arizona-based Thoma-Holec Design focuses on designing senior living communities across the U.S. and Canada. The firm recently conducted a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) for Clearwater Mayo Boulevard, a senior living community located in Phoenix. The primary objective was to identify aspects of this newly constructed community that could be either advantageous or problematic for both residents and staff members.

THE COMMUNITY
Nestled between North Phoenix and North Scottsdale, Clearwater Mayo Boulevard enjoys a prime location, surrounded by a long list of complementing amenities including shopping centers, upscale dining spots, entertainment venues, golf courses and recreational parks. Its proximity to Mayo Clinic Hospital further enhances its appeal.

The extensive list of resort-style activities offered at Clearwater Mayo reflects the diverse interests of its well-traveled and cultured residents. From non-denominational worship services to university lifelong learning programs and guest lectures, the community caters to various interests. Additionally, amenities such as the Radiance Salon, which offers massage, hair and nail services, as well as outings to local events and social gatherings, help residents remain engaged and connected, mitigating feelings of isolation. The community boasts programming for the lap pools, a fitness center with classes, an art studio, a game room with billiards, a theater room, a bark park and more, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

The community is leasing well, reflecting its appeal to potential residents. The staff exhibits kindness and a welcoming attitude toward visitors and residents, and their evident pride in the community is noteworthy. Residents express satisfaction with their living environment, but with a few adjustments, the living space can be optimized better to serve the growing resident population.

The core tenets of Thoma-Holec’s design process are:
• Life Enrichment: The design encourages residents to engage in social programming and entertainment and to utilize health and wellness amenities.
• Socialization: The building’s interior design and amenity spaces actively foster socialization among residents, support public interactions and facilitate intergenerational programs.
• Aging In Place: The design aligns with the care model for aging in place. This involves the ability to smoothly transition residents from independent living to assisted living or memory care. Additionally, our design team considers the presence of safety features that cater to the increasing personal care needs of residents.

THE EVALUATION
Targeted questions were devised for participants, seeking insights into the specific impact of design choices on their lives, whether positive or negative. The evaluation focused on key departments, including sales, maintenance, lifestyle, culinary and wellness. Thoma-Holec’s goal for the POE was to assess the ongoing effectiveness of industry best practices for senior living environments.

The designers focused on key architectural and interior design elements to gauge the impact of the community’s features on older adults and the supporting staff, including:
• Architectural and/or interior design elements considerations
• Lighting levels, sufficient foot-candles and control for glare
• Use of color support for depth perception for aging eyes while maintaining a residential or homelike aesthetic
• Floorcoverings that provide for ease of mobility while creating a soft surface to reduce potential injury from falls
• Window treatments’ ability to adjust for different daylighting conditions, thereby controlling glare
• Acoustical treatments’ spatial volumes and potential sound transmission between private spaces, effectively designed to reduce negative stimulation and protect privacy
• Circulation patterns and movement through the space, supported by spatial layout and features that support autonomy in navigation and stamina (landmarks for reminders, handrails for support)
• Fixed furnishings and equipment furnishings that are supportive of aging adults
• Moveable furnishings and equipment furnishings that are supportive of aging adults

In all instances, it was also important that the aesthetic support a residential appeal and that the specification be appropriate for a healthcare setting and the required maintenance and life safety.

THE DESIGN
The dining venue was designed to be integrated into a large open-concept area, motivated by the desire to enhance residents’ dining experience and improve operational efficiency. The distinct seating areas within this space cater to diverse preferences.

For the floor, our designers wanted an organic yet luxurious feel that meshed but created distinct dining areas. For the intimate and formal area, we selected a customizable floral-accented broadloom from Shaw Contract’s hospitality program. To delineate the casual dining area and continue the organic feel, we selected Trellis Oak porcelain, a chevron wood-look pattern from Daltile.

The main dining area, named Crave, offers a multi-functional open space. Designed to provide a lively atmosphere for residents to engage with friends and visitors, it includes a more secluded area for those seeking a more private atmosphere. Similarly, the casual dining area, named Forno Mangia, offers multi-functionality and convenience through its bistro section, which provides grab-and-go options, as well as its bar seating area with comfortable and inviting environment for residents to relax, socialize and enjoy refreshments.

To delineate the casual dining area and continue the organic feel, the design team again used Daltile’s Trellis Oak. The low-maintenance porcelain was selected specifically for its longevity even amid higher foot traffic-based on resident feedback, the operator has efforts underway to enhance the bistro’s usage. A recent initiative involves promoting sandwiches and oven-prepared pizzas, introducing a menu featuring four signature sandwiches and a build-your-own pizza option.

The fitness room was intended to foster a healthy and active lifestyle within the community. Boasting vibrant orange colors and state-of-the-art equipment, this space is well-equipped to accommodate a range of activities and exercises. Positivity and vibrance are reflected in the decision to use Engage Tile, a modular carpet collection from Shaw Contract, in a variety of colors. The modular carpet’s pops of brightness inspire elements of high energy, motivating the residents to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The feedback for the fitness room highlighted its commendable aesthetic, functionality and lighting. The fitness room caters specifically to individuals using the fitness equipment, weights and bands, and those participating in yoga sessions.

The sophisticated piano room, situated in an expansive open space, offers a distinctive experience within the open-concept floor plan. The fireplace, adorned with striking patterned tile and metal partitions, serves not only as a focal point but also as a stylish means of delineating the main lobby from the piano lounge while maintaining visibility between the two areas. This intentional design enables staff to easily observe and assist residents.

The marble-inspired porcelain floor tile, Melange from Livingstone, provides an organic and easily maintainable experience, a visual and physical homage to the desert landscape. It also offers the durability required for the flexible programming within the space. The high ceilings, modern decor and versatile furniture in the piano room were purposefully chosen to provide comfort and flexibility. Residents utilize the space for various gatherings and events, enjoying cocktails and music in a welcoming environment.

The design of resident apartments incorporates modern elements, including stainless steel appliances and a neutral color palette for walls, flooring and cabinets. The intent was to appeal to a broad audience and provide each resident with the opportunity to personalize their living space.

In the living room and bedrooms, a contemporary broadloom from Mohawk, called Sculptured Touch, was glued down directly to the subfloor to reduce tripping hazards. The kitchens and bathrooms have Hill House porcelain tile from Daltile, specified to allow a seamless transition from carpet to tile. The aging-in-place design objectives comprehensively address safety, comfort and the adequacy of resident areas to support evolving personal care needs.

Residents find the high ceilings and overall layout of the apartments appealing. And they have vocalized their distinct preference for hard surfaces over carpeted flooring in their bedrooms. This is a manageable value-add during apartment turnover.

Copyright 2024 Floor Focus

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