ROSEMANN WINS FIRST PLACE FOR THE GREEN HOUSE ® DESIGN CHARRETTE

Earlier this month at the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Conference in Philadelphia, the American Institute of Architects and the IDEAS Institute announced Rosemann & Associates, P.C. and Mount Carmel Senior Living as the first place winner of THE GREEN HOUSE ® Design Charrette in the Urban Design category.

Supported by the not-for-profit NCB Capital Impact organization, a “Green House ® Project” is a design concept for group residences where frail seniors live independently in a “home-like” environment while simultaneously receiving skilled nursing care. According to NCB’s website, this innovative concept is a radical departure from traditional care communities as its design intent is to offer more privacy, autonomy and community support.

“The theory is that providing more choices and an intimate, ‘home-like’ atmosphere supports an active living environment which can lead to a sense of meaning and fulfillment in one’s life,” says senior living design expert Nancy Rodney, AIA, LEED AP.

The GREEN HOUSE ® Design Charrette involved teams from all over the country, categorized into professional and student teams. Each team was assigned one of three site types: Urban, Suburban, or Rural. Rosemann was assigned the Urban site and provided a design entitled “Garden in the City.”

“Our design creates a connection to nature and community activity that is welcoming and familiar to senior residents,” says Rodney. "For frail seniors that are unable to get outside every day these connections are necessary for mental health and personal interest.”

Each design category received roughly 20 entries and was judged based on creativity, feasibility and its ability to capture the spirit of the Green House model. According to the IDEAS Institute’s website, the jury consisted of design professionals, an elder, a “Shabaz”, a family member of an elder living in a Green House ® home and care providers who are familiar with the concept.

Though Green House ® homes are a fairly new concept among design professionals and care providers in the Midwest Rodney says the idea is spreading. Currently, there is one Green House model community in Kansas, one in Ohio and three in Michigan. At the same time, the cost to participate in the Green House ® Project is moving out of reach for many senior care providers.

“I do think that we will see a Green House ® community soon in our part of the Midwest,” she says. “This is because there are providers who feel the support offered by the program to develop a community is worth the cost.”

But the Green House ® idea is bigger than the program. Rodney says she feels it has already affected radically the way design professionals and care providers think about new skilled nursing projects.

“It will continue to spread influence not only over the physical arrangement of spaces but the concept of care and caregivers in skilled nursing homes,” she says. “This benefit will be felt in the entire community.”

For more information contact Pam Boelhauf at 314.678.1448.

To read an article written for Multi Housing News click on this link: http://www.multihousingnews.com/multihousing/content_display/industry-news/e3i2998df2f8111f6a83be409e1fabd2336

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Community Praises Alton Pointe Project

In today’s St. Louis Post Dispatch, the Rosemann designed Alton Pointe Apartments was given praise by the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the City of Alton's Mayor Donald Sandidge as “the best thing to happen in Alton for a long time.”

Rosemann worked with Gundaker Commercial Group and Madison County Housing Authority in developing the $12.4 million, 84 unit apartment complex.

In the article, Project Architect Andrew Koenig, AIA discussed Rosemann’s dedication to affordable housing design.

“We like to do affordable housing because we’re serving a demographic that needs great housing but doesn’t have much of it,” he said.

To read the entire article visit: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/developmenteconomy/story/2721CFE575018807862574EC001CC9E6?OpenDocument

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SENIOR LIVING DESIGN HAS BIG IMPACT ON WELLNESS

Kansas City, Mo. – Rosemann & Associates, P.C. recently completed the historic renovation of Newton Place Apartments, an affordable, independent senior living community located in Neosho, Mo. Originally constructed in 1906, Newton Place Apartments provides seniors, age 62 or older, with an independent living option in a location that encourages an active lifestyle.

“When we get older our world tends to shrink and it becomes harder to keep up with old friends,” says senior living design expert Nancy Rodney, AIA, LEED AP. “By providing housing in centralized locations we keep seniors engaged, benefiting the community and their own health and well-being.”

Newton Place Apartments is one of the tallest buildings in the town and has a prominent position in its downtown square. “Its location allows the residents to take full advantage of community amenities while having a safe, comfortable place to retreat,” says Project Architect Suzanne Regier, LEED AP.

A few building amenities that encourage social well-being include a first floor community room and computer lab, a secured, outdoor patio and common areas for group activities. “Because of the building’s intimate setting and connected amenities the residents can easily form friendships,” says Regier.

Rodney explains intimate, home-like settings often create a family atmosphere which assists in the transition from a single family home to senior living. “Contrary to expectations, it is much harder for seniors to make new friends than for younger people,” she says. “Small group settings that allow individuals to shine ease the process of becoming part of the group.”

Once known as the Newton Hotel, Rosemann developed an updated design to reflect the building’s hotel era. By removing the 1970s additions, restoring the facades and highlighting the exteriors with an outdoor lighting scheme and fabric awnings, the building is similar in style to a boutique hotel.

Creating a cohesive boutique style, Rosemann’s interior designers selected upscale lighting fixtures, new furnishings, and a warm color palette. Director of Interior Design Vickie Stewart adds, “We chose original oil paintings and traditional furnishings to create an old world feel that is familiar to the residents and something they can relate to.”

One design challenge was optimizing natural light while maintaining the building’s historic fenestration. Rosemann’s designers solved this issue by creating openings above the kitchen cabinets to borrow light from the bedrooms. “Seniors like everyone, respond well to natural light,” explains Rodney. “It is important for their physical and psychological well-being.”

Working as the architect and interior designer for owner Newton Place, L.P., Rosemann teamed with the City of Neosho, the Missouri Housing Development Commission, Fairway Construction Co. Inc., Straub Construction, Inc., Bob D. Campbell & Co. Inc., and PKMR Engineers, LLC to complete the project.

With four stories and over 13,000 sq. ft., the design includes 11 one-bedroom units and 4 two-bedroom units in a small floor plan typical of historic buildings.

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