Environments for Aging - Spring 2018 - 49

team in identifying Chautauqua Hall as a signature campus venue. Ultimately, the Willow Valley
team promoted the idea of an indoor/outdoor
hall based upon their travels and experiences
with similar venues across the United States.
Site features, geometry, and existing grading
provided a natural direction for building layout
and orientation. Chautauqua Hall's floor plan
seamlessly aligns with parking and grade-level
access on the north side, expansive views of a
lake and fountain feature on the south side, and
a walk-out terrace to the east.
Rebecca Slenker: The initial design went
through several iterations "open pavilion" to
"auditorium." Through digital imagery and samples pulled from similar projects, we arrived
at a hybrid between the two. By anchoring a
stage at one end, the design team was able to
have the walls open on either side as well as a
bar, which opens opposite the stage to an outdoor patio. This allows the main space to serve
a multitude of event layouts and functions.
The rooftop terrace and top-floor
gathering areas-something not often
seen-were very well received by jurors.
How did the team come to identify this
as a worthwhile endeavor and were there
challenges in achieving it?
Nikolaus: In capitalizing on the Vistas' prominent location on campus, the Willow Valley
team sought to develop a unique outdoor
feature for residents that would complement
the variety of indoor common space amenities. The roof terrace accomplishes this by
taking advantage of the building's height and
access to panoramic views of the surrounding
countryside and Lancaster beyond. Practical
structural design considerations addressing
wind issues and the need to provide elevator
access while also extending two stairways for
dual rooftop means of egress increased the
project scope and budget.

NATHAN COX PHOTOGRAPHY

This project is steeped in regional
design. What was your process for
applying it to the project-and in
different ways?
Slenker: As our firm is located in Lancaster
we have great exposure to the history of the
architecture surrounding us. The design team
partnered with a local timber framer who
collaborated with the structural design and

Top: Residents worked with the in-house design team to customize and select finishes for their homes. Above: The
addition includes an enclosed terrace that's home to a community table to accommodate group dining or meetings.

helped influence the construction details.
We toured similar buildings as well as the
timber framer's studio to see the construction up-close.
The goals expressed for this project
include achieving a sense of vitality
and agelessness. How do you think
that's achieved here, and what's the
key to doing it right?
Slenker: Chautauqua Hall supports Willow Valley's focus on lifelong learning in a

multifunctional, distinctive setting that's a unique
departure from typical multipurpose venues in a
CCRC. The key to getting it right is never saying
"we can't do that in a senior living community."
If the architecture is built for flexibility for all
ages, and done successfully, each user is able
to adapt the space to adequately meet their
needs.
For more on this project, see page 90. EFA
Jennifer Kovacs Silvis is editor-in-chief of Environments for Aging. She can be reached at jennifer.
silvis@emeraldexpo.com.
Spring 2018 * EFAmagazine.com

http://www.EFAmagazine.com

Environments for Aging - Spring 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Environments for Aging - Spring 2018