Environments for Aging - Fall 2016 - 62

REMODEL/RENOVATION COMPETITION

Vriendschap Village - A Watermark Retirement Community PELLA, IOWA
Submitted by: DesignPoint, Inc. BETHLEHEM, PA.
Cost per square foot: $117
Design team: Rachel
Rangelov, Director of Design
and Development (Watermark
Retirement Community);
Kathleen Sportelli, VP/senior
interior designer; Kayla Edelman,
interior designer; Schwaki Milan,
AIA (DesignPoint, Inc.)

to transform the building to foster a
sense of community," says the senior
interior designer on the project.
What began in early 2015 as a
project to unify the community
mushroomed into a complete renovation of the common areas. The
project had challenges, including

In 2011, a development group ac-

re-engineering the building's internal

quired a senior living community that structure, moving load-bearing
was aging and had design flaws that

walls, reallocating office space, and

improperly segregated independent

relocating the mailroom to make it

living residents from assisted living

an integral part of daily life.

residents. Each section had a separate

Office space was reconfigured

entrance with an awkward series of

and the outdated resident coffee

tight spaces and locked doors. The

area removed. Provided in its place

only shared access was through door-

was an open grab-and-go style café

ways via the business office.

stocked with snacks, sandwiches, and

and the gateway into the dining area.

light fare that connected the assisted

New stylish wood barn doors on the

under one roof, an unwieldy opera-

and independent living areas. Casual

dining entrance provide flexibility to

tion of inefficiencies, unacquainted

seating was added to host the diners,

change venue size based on the needs

employees and isolated residents. The

coffee clubbers, and visitors. The

of the active community. The dining

divided layout begged for reconcilia-

original uninviting coffee area is now

area was also redesigned to increase

tion with the other half.

a modern café that receives traffic

its functionality as a multipurpose

and natural light from both sides of

room with a modern twist.

The separation created two worlds

After acquiring the property,
management surveyed the residents
to solicit unbiased comments about

the building.
The dining staff was hesitant about

PHOTO (AFTER): KEN STABILE PHOTOGRAPHY

BEFORE

The café is the hub of the building

Opening into the front of the
café is a newly renovated lobby. The

the community. Residents lamented

the burden to service the café, but

spacious lobby provides a warm

the lack of space for socialization as

in working with the food services

welcome to guests, with a large stone

well as the lack of a casual dining area manager, the community created

fireplace. Extra attention was paid

with snack options, as most residents

ways to service the café from the main

to the décor by using artwork and

ate sporadically in the dining room.

kitchen. The receptionist's work area

accessories from area shops which

Key employees contributed ad-

was also reconfigured to include a ca-

embodies the culture of the area.

ditional input and submitted the rec-

shier station and is now able to assist

ommendations to management and

in the daily operation of the café to

May 2016. When asked if the project

the interior design firm. "We wanted

increase services without adding staff.

achieved its goal, the director of

Renovations were unveiled in

development for the community
concludes, "The banter, laughter, and
smiles in the café each morning is
evidence of a successful project."

Jury comments:
* A great example of supporting
social goals through architectural
and interior design.
* The connection between assisted
living and independent living that
was created, the goal of fostering
a sense of community, the
destinations that were created...
this project so successfully
embodies many owner/operators
goals.
* The interior finishes are modern,
inviting, warm, and innovative.
From the dining tables and chairs
to the use of local artwork, the
spaces look "in the now"!
Reader comments:
* The renovations give more of an
open feel and provide a homelike
atmosphere.
* The design is clean and modern
but not sterile. Very sophisticated
and resident "friendly"
* Impressive transformation and
the focus on not just aesthetic
upgrades but also operational
efficiency is impressive.

BEFORE
PHOTO (AFTER): KEN STABILE PHOTOGRAPHY

62

Environments for Aging * special supplement
Environments for Aging - Fall 2016

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