Environments for Aging - Fall 2018 - 56

ENTS FO

SILVER

ING

REMODEL/
RENOVATION

St. Ignatius Nursing & Rehab Center - Resident Rooms PHILADELPHIA
Submitted by: Lenhardt Rodgers Architecture + Interiors FORT WASHINGTON, PA.

ENVIRO

REMODEL/RENOVATION COMPETITION

2018

Cost per square foot: $203
Design Team: Lenhardt Rodgers
Architecture + Interiors (architect,
interior designer, and FFE
procurement), Moore Engineering Company (MEP engineer),
MacIntosh Engineering (structural
engineer), Berks Ridge Company
Enterprises Inc. (contractor), Corsi
Associates, LLC (culinary design)
Photography: Halkin Photography
LLC (after images)

beds and the site did not allow for
expansion. While all agreed that
creating private rooms was ideal, at
this site and with this budget, it was
not possible. Thus, space planning
became completely internal with
the essential goals of providing
resident centered care through
privacy for each resident and updating bathrooms for ADA compli-

"We need something drasti-

ance. The Sisters, administration,

cally different" was the charge from

staff, architect, and interior designer

President and CEO Susan McCrary

gathered to participate in focus

of St. Ignatius Nursing & Rehab

groups in which collaborative de-

Center on their quest to add a

sign decisions were made to ensure

separate short-term stay compo-

the success of this new space.

nent to this stand-alone, long-term

Within the existing rooms, four

care home. St. Ignatius, under the

people shared a non-accessible

passionate ministry of the Felician

bathroom and two shared a room

Franciscan Sisters, provides quality

with only a cubicle curtain for

care to low-income elderly. As a

privacy. In the new plan, unique

non-profit organization where over

four-person suites were created

90% of residents receive Medicaid,

with an enlarged centrally located

the nursing wings received little to

shared bathroom. Rooms within

no renovations over the years due

the suite are divided by 6-foot-high

to cost. The project scope, limited

walls with a translucent glass win-

to one wing of this urban 5-story

dow allowing light to pass through

building, aimed to transform this

into the adjacent room yet provide

outdated medical model skilled

privacy. The interior room has a

their families. Staff also like the feel-

nursing unit.

window onto the corridor which

ing that they now have more privacy

allows a view and a sense of spa-

in which to provide direct care to the

ciousness. The enlarged bathroom,

residents," remarks McCrary. "The

The financial model did not allow
for much reduction in number of

BEFORE

with an easy-to-operate

well-placed lighting and other ameni-

sliding door, can now

ties...make for a very comfortable

be used without the

and pleasant space in which to rehab

help of a caregiver. "The

and convalesce".

private 'pods' provide

Individual medicine cabinets

an enhanced level of

located at the suite entrance keep the

privacy for residents and

medical cart away from the personal
space and residential-style cabinetry
at each bed conceals oxygen and suction. "The piped-in oxygen and suctioning allows for more floor space
in each room. We now do not need
portable oxygen concentrators for the
residents in those rooms," states McCrary. All measures make caregiving

BEFORE

Environments for Aging * special supplement

and family visits more comfortable
and give dignity to the residents.

Jury comments:
* Beautiful, warm, and effective
design for the rehab clients that
will be using the space, which
is not typical for facilities that
serve individuals who are of low
income. The architects did a
great job of updating the space,
and maintaining patient privacy
within the constraints of semiprivate rooms. The sliding door on
bathroom really maintains open
space for people using a wheelchair
or walker for mobility. The open
space under sink is also important
for someone in a wheelchair,
and the mirror appears to be low
enough for someone in a seated
position to actually see themselves
while completing grooming
activities. Very effective design for
the population that will be using the
space!
* The existing space is maximized to
promote resident privacy, resident
autonomy, and limitations upon
institutional features such as carts
and medical equipment. The
design uses translucent panels
and window views in the interior
corridor-facing rooms in order to
maximize daylight.
* There is a much greater sense
of privacy while maintaining the
functionality of the spaces.

Environments for Aging - Fall 2018

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