Environments for Aging - Spring 2017 - 98

EFA DESIGN SHOWCASE
SKILLED NURSING

Valley View Village Health Center DES MOINES, IOWA
Submitted by: Pope Architects Inc. ST. PAUL, MINN., AND Henricksen MINNEAPOLIS

Project category: New construction
Chief administrator: Stephanie Proper, executive director and administrator
Firms: Pope Architects Inc., www.popearch.com; Henricksen, www.henricksen.
com
Design team: Pope Architects (architect and interior designer); Henricksen
(furniture procurer); Elim Care (owner); Story Construction (general contractor);
Cain Thomas (mechanical and electrical engineer); Clark Engineering (structural
engineer)
Photography: Gilbertson Photography LLC
Number/type of housing units: 16 transitional care (3 semi-private), 13 memory
care (7 semi-private), 29 skilled nursing (10 semi-private)
Total building area (sq. ft.): 71,060
Construction cost/sq. ft.: $185
Total construction cost (excluding land): $13.2 million
Completed: August 2016

The new Valley View Village

tic details, and faux mechanical units

Health Center is a beautiful setting

and columns enhance the historical

for senior residents and a destination

perspective.

for outpatient physical therapy in an
established neighborhood.
The design solution interprets a

Designing households with some
semi-private units minimized costs,
allowing for budget to be applied

high-end Arts and Crafts-style home

elsewhere. Each shared suite offers two

for a well-lit, durable skilled care

private bedrooms with ample personal

environment. The style is modified

storage, and an expansive shared bath-

by brightening the intense his-

room and kitchenette. Nearly 90 percent

torical colors and amplifying lighting

of the resident suites face a household

throughout. Custom-designed fixtures

common space. Residents can see and

fit the aesthetic and emit appropriate

easily access the heart of the household,

lighting levels. Dark wood trim, artis-

while maintaining personal space in
their suite.
The design team spent a significant
amount of time strategizing operational
solutions, stressing the importance
of food and medication delivery, and
keeping the sight of equipment minimized during transit. Staff efficiency is
improved with paperless charting and
a locked cabinet in suite kitchenettes
dedicated for resident care supplies.
The design intent empowers
residents to seek rehabilitation in the
location of their choice. Occupational
therapy can be fully addressed within
the environment, and residents can
maintain muscle control through daily
life activities in the household. They get
involved in kitchen prep and cleaning
activities at the oversized island, and the
flexible dining room offers abundant
community and therapy interactions.

98

Environments for Aging * special supplement
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Environments for Aging - Spring 2017

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