2022 CCRC’s Best Lightweight Design: Modern Design and Local History

The story came to life in the Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Maryland.

The main purpose of the Modena Reserve at Kensington project was to preserve the history of Kensington, Maryland, and its connection to the B&O railroad, which came to the city in 1891.

The two-acre infill site is close to the Kensington Historic District and downtown, close to historic homes, restaurants, shops, a post office, a farmer’s market, and a grocery store.

Local community input was central to the development of the project, leading to sweeping changes before construction began. As a result, the CCRC, made up of 63 ILs, 46 ALs, and 25 memory units, has gone to great lengths, including repurposing two historic homes already on the property to pay homage to local history.

Lantz-Boggio Architects and Antunovich Associates collaborated on the design of the project. The community is owned by McCaffery Inc. and is managed by Solera Senior Living. Today, the project is a successful community in the Solera portfolio, thanks in part to its grand plan, according to CEO Adam Kaplan.

“Ultimately, the brand’s vision to target the luxury sub-markets in the First Ring sub-markets aligned very well with the demand for a next-generation hospitality-focused offering,” Kaplan told Senior Housing News.

The community’s extraordinary combination of sophistication, beauty and convenience has resulted in the project winning first place in the CCRC Lite category at the 2022 Senior Housing News Architecture and Design Awards.

Concept

Community planning began in 2017. According to Lantz Boggio director David Fick, the community’s initial design was “more progressive” with bold colors and modern materials. According to him, design work on the project began in 2018.

This changed during the community comment round and after the project planners became aware of the significance of the site and the historic district surrounding it. Therefore, the design team redesigned the project to incorporate the city’s history and local culture, as well as its connection to agriculture and the railroad. The indentation of the building has also been changed in design.

The project’s updated design included earthy tones and, where possible, local building materials, Fick said.

“We wanted to create a series of wow moments in the community,” Fick told Senior Housing News. “We wanted to achieve community integration and we believe in community integration.”

Colored materials, high ceilings and the use of lighting and art to divide the space are meant to add intrigue. From the moment a person walks in the front door or takes a tour, the building makes “a great first impression,” according to Fick.

The design was developed with excursions in mind, and the space contains as few doors as possible to create a sense of openness for visitors and residents alike.

“It’s a series of active spaces and that makes the building more inviting,” he added.

This focus on free movement helps give the community a more intimate vibe than a large, impersonal building, Fick says.

The “Activity Zone” on the ground floor was designed to allow for spontaneous interaction between residents and staff, where one could sit and play at the table or grab a bite to eat in a nearby alcove. Community dining areas have used ceiling heights, textures, and materials to give the impression that residents are eating in a new place every day, with separate dining areas, alcoves, and alcoves adding to the unique feel.

The developers of the project also built a cafe in one of the two historic houses on the site, which strengthened the connection with the area. A salon and fitness center has been added to a second existing historic home with the goal of allowing Kensington residents to use and socialize in the same places as residents of the area.

The project also includes a courtyard at the back of the community and balconies next to two neighboring buildings already on the property.

“We felt like we should take a cue from some of the hotels in the city, and the entrance is at the corner of the building so that when you drive in there is a sense of the city,” Fick said.

He added that the design team would not have been able to succeed with their original property-wide design due to the redevelopment of historic homes.

“On the infill, creating a personal space was really important, and the design of this courtyard was designed to address indoor and outdoor spaces with an emphasis on connection,” Fick said. — It was important for us.

The building’s exterior combines traditional materials, including planks and battens, light and red brick, with features such as brick-inlaid metal panels.

Lighter tones were also used to give the impression of reduced height to better fit into the location. The commuter rail line is in close proximity to the property and construction of a cafe and a second existing building to serve as a lounge and fitness center. Both components link the external Kensington community to the project.

Design

Wohlsen Construction’s builders had to consider a variety of factors to make the project a reality, faced with a 10-foot drop in site elevation and slope. According to Fick, the floor plans included open spaces, and construction crews built them to create a “series of open spaces” rather than a maze of corridors.

Covid-19 impacted construction on the 162,391-square-foot community with crews installing new HVAC systems to better protect residents and staff. Fick noted that the slowdown in the supply chain was felt throughout the process, but did not result in major delays in construction. The pandemic has led construction and design teams to innovate in the way they meet and plan community development.

Construction time adjustments due to Covid-19 due to having small groups of subcontractors on site to prevent impact have extended the construction time of the project.

“The contractor was constantly finding ways to move forward with other aspects of construction,” Fick said. “Installing appliances and furniture also proved to be a challenge. Some furniture had to be temporarily rented in order to open on time.”

The acoustics consultant briefed the construction and design teams on the soundproofing of exterior walls and windows in the community due to the nearby commuter rail line. This allowed the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize natural light.

Completion

Construction was completed in August 2021 and due to the design, the community was rented out faster than originally thought.

“The success of a residential senior community is always judged by occupancy,” Fick said. “Once the building opened, it became even easier to sell it.”

The project was completed within the original budget, although some additional costs were associated with additional design due to changes to the project after the start of the pandemic.

Kaplan added that he believes the project won the top prize this year because of the way the project team combined history and local connections into the final product. .

“We have connected the past with the future by incorporating two historic homes on the property into our community. They serve as amenities for the neighborhood as well as our residents and are tastefully connected to the main building,” Kaplan said.

One of the judges for the project, Studio Six5 President Dean Maddalena, specifically praised the design of the project as a “beautiful and intimate community”.

“The interior space is filled with hospitality yet familiar,” Maddalena said. “I also like using two existing frameworks to scale and use.”

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