It’s estimated nearly 3,000 senior housing units were started across the U.S. in the first quarter of 2017. This strong construction growth reflects the growing demand for senior housing, especially assisted-living housing as aging Baby Boomers transition from their private residence.
For an owner, developer, builder, or contractor looking for best practice in this growing housing sector, a good template to consider may be the award-winning Braemar at Wallkill, a $35.5 million, 130,000 square foot assisted-living center in the Hudson Valley community of Middletown, N.Y.
The 130-unit, four-story facility offers up to 200 residents quality assisted-living care at prices set below the market average, explains Jessica Cotellese, development manager at the FilBen Group, the center’s family-owned project owner, developer, and operator. Cotellese handles project development from design through construction, including interior design and materials specification. In the two years since Braemar at Wallkill opened, it has received numerous distinctions, including recognition as the county’s only facility to win the Best of Senior Living Award from SeniorAdvisor.com.
- Style It Like Home. “We worked hard to make this facility a little more residential like someone’s home. The Adirondack-style exterior features a porte cochere (covered vehicle entrance), natural colors, and stone. Inside the aesthetic is arts-and-crafts inspired. We used local reclaimed wood and stone for the grand fireplace. The lobby features a 20-foot ceiling accented by barn-wood beams.”
- Think Long-Term. “Different types of materials perform better than others. I am very mindful of that as I specify materials. For example, that’s why we specified the All Ultrex Windows by Integrity® from Marvin® Windows and Doors. We liked the durability and the proven performance of Ultrex® fiberglass.”
- Keep it Clean. “I always try to select things that are going to withstand the high level of maintenance and cleaning that goes on 24/7 at Wallkill. I ask, ‘Is it going to be easy for our staff to keep clean?’ Everything I hear indicates the windows are easy for staff to clean.”
- Ask If It’s Resident-Friendly. “I work with different suppliers in researching new materials and checking-out new products. A key consideration is functionality. Is it easy for our older residents to operate without difficulty? Take our Integrity Single Hung Windows. They’re very easy for our residents to open and close. That’s a big selling point in our presentations.”
- Consider the Name and Reputation. “I considered our window options and specified the Integrity Windows from Marvin. They’re obviously a well-known company and stand behind their product. Their name, their brand were certainly factors in the decision. It’s a safe, worry-free decision.”
- Seal Out Harsh Weather. “The middle of New York State has cold, wind, snow, and rain. The building envelope has to put up with some rough weather, so the siding, insulation, mechanical systems and windows have to work together to keep our residents comfortable. When it’s cold outside, you don’t feel any drafts from the windows. If the residents had any complaints, believe me, we’d know!”
For now, Cotellese is busy preparing for the opening of a new assisted-living center, now in development for New York’s Rockland County.
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