 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Building Luxury
When Barrington Venture, LLC, decided to build a senior living community, it had the graciousness of a fine European apartment hotel in mind—luxurious, amenities, lush gardens and no parking lots. "We wanted to build a level of quality into this community that is superior to almost every other CCRC (continuing care retirement community)," said Edgar J. Gansz Jr., Barrington Venture’s vice president. "Our residents are discerning people who want an active lifestyle, comfort and security." The $190 million Garlands of Barrington is located in the upscale wooded suburb of Barrington, Illinois—about 35 miles northwest of Chicago. The development offers residential living in 256 apartments and 13 freestanding duplex homes, plus another 70 units for assisted-living, skilled nursing and dementia care. Among the amenities are four dining venues, a fitness center with pool, 12 guest suites, retail shops and a 40-seat surround-sound theater. The general contractor for the project is Pepper Construction Co., also of Barrington. The architect is Torti Gallas and Partners-CHK Inc., of Silver Spring, Maryland, and the landscape architect is Joe Karr, of Joe Karr & Associates, of Chicago. Designing for the Senior Niche Senior housing is a growing segment of the residential market as life spans elongate and Baby Boomers enter their golden years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, about 6.5 million older Americans need assistance with daily living activities. The number is expected to double by 2020, although many of these individuals will be served at home. Incomes are also on the rise. The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care Industries in Annapolis, Maryland, estimates a current total of about 46,000 senior housing properties with supportive services in the United States with a capacity to house more than 3.4 million people. The demand for beds is expected to grow 7% between 2000-2005; 9% between 2005-2010; 13% between 2010-2015, and 14% between 2015-2020. Parking Hidden Below the Neighborhoods The architectural style of The Garlands, which sits on a 315-acre former corporate campus, is influenced by the steep roofs, picturesque massing and simple surface of several late medieval northern European styles. It is reminiscent of many of the homes built in the area during the early parts of the 20th Century and employs large amounts of brick and stone with accents of the stucco-esque Dryvet. Stone wraps the base of the building. The taller buildings will be topped with architectural-grade asphalt shingles, the duplexes with synthetic slate. Gutters, downspouts and exposed flashing will be copper. With the exception of the duplex homes, which in Garland-speak are called villas, all of the buildings are connected to protect residents from inclement weather while meeting their medical, recreational and social needs. Parking for nearly 500 cars is placed underground not only to shield the elements, but also to help eliminate any institutional feeling. "We have no seas of asphalt," said Gansz. With the needs of an aging, yet prosperous, market in mind, the units are finished with top-of-the-line appointments such as furniture-quality cabinetry, granite and marble countertops and ceramic and wood floors. Public areas feature glare-free lighting and furniture that is easy to get in and out of. "One of the bywords is to design dementia areas in terms of neighborhoods," said Gansz. "These are self-contained groupings of rooms where people can circulate and be comfortable with their surroundings. One thing that is heart-wrenching is the old designs that have long corridors. Sometimes patients will walk to the end and stand there, staring out a window. That’s difficult for any family to see." Another goal was that The Garlands be an intergenerational facility, where local residents would make use of the amenities, said Rick Jolson, director of senior living for Torti Gallas. "There is a multi-purpose room with a raised stage which has its own separate entrance," he said. "The idea is that outside groups can lease the space. We’ve also set aside a very public square and a neighborhood park—the kind of place where people can go and see ducks.
Construction Worked Around Winter Weather Although demolition of what was a corporate campus was done three years ago, actual construction of the $19 million project began in August. Pepper is performing the actual construction and some of the concrete work. The excavation, HVAC, plumbing, sprinkler, electrical and some concrete work are being let out to subcontractors. So far the first duplex is in place. One side is being used as a model and the other as a sales office. Construction for five of the remaining 12 duplexes is slated to start this spring. The design drawings for the fitness center are in progress with groundbreaking expected this fall. Plans are to complete three of the garage portions, which serve as foundations for the apartment buildings, in the fall. Two garage sections were progressing as expected and then the heavy December snow arrived. Because the excavation and concrete pouring were stalled, the project team decided to go vertical. They put off the third foundation until spring and instead moved onto the decks of the first and second buildings. "This is concrete post tension construction and weather didn’t cooperate very well with that undertaking," said Gansz. "We managed because of Pepper Construction’s ingenuity. Even though we lost some time, we gained some by taking one building sooner than later." Another major consideration for the project team was storm weather management. Three wet ponds and one dry one were not enough, and yet, Barrington Venture, LLC, wanted to preserve its acreage for open space. The solution was to build an underground storm water storage vault, which is typical in other parts of the country but new to Barrington. The concrete vault is placed about three feet underground. Surface water flows in through grating and eventually flows into the village storm system. Above the vault is a garden. Gewalt Hamilton Associates Inc. of Vernon Hills designed the vault. "The vault virtually disappears but is part of the drainage system," said Jolson, architect of Torti Gallas.
‘Wandering Garden’ a Special-Needs Design The landscaping is of particular significance at The Garlands, where trees, gardens, ponds and paths provide residents with opportunities for exercise and quiet contemplation and wildlife with habitats. "The idea here is to have a sort of gentle, 30-acre residential feeling that is very relaxing and like home for everybody and with large common spaces so anybody living here will feel like the outside belongs to them," said landscape architect Joe Karr. The site plan was designed to leave intact several stands of mature trees, which are augmented with hundreds more. Barrington Venture, LLC invested in larger plant materials to give as much of an immediate effect as possible and to provide screening from adjacent non-residential properties. "We tried to preserve as much open space as possible," said Jolson. "The former owners had a lot of surface parking. We put in all new roads but put them at or near where the previous ones were so as to disturb as little growth as possible." Several gardens and courtyards, including one with a paved area for receptions and parties, boast perennials, ground cover, shrub roses and a variety of flowering trees to give year-round color effects. Open spaces add to the country-like ambiance for which the Village of Barrington is known. People with dementia have tendencies to wander and sometimes get lost. They also are sometimes intimidated by large open areas. With these considerations in mind, the project created a "wandering garden"—sidewalks laid in grid formation and lined with shrubs. "It’s a smaller, enclosed area so that the dementia patients can spend time outdoors," said Gansz. "But it’s not so overwhelming as to be intimidating." The ponds are appointed with natural grasses, water edge plants, birch trees and conifers as well as architectural touches of retaining walls and overlook areas with benches. "The ponds are there for holding water but what we’ve done is make them real amenities," said Joe Karr. "We’ve got a stone bridge over one and a fountain at the entrance pond." "We want to be absolutely certain this is not a gated community," said Gansz. "This is an open community where our residents will experience a full lifestyle while knowing their needs are being taken care of while having all of the amenity spaces and comforts of home." The first move-ins are scheduled for 2002. Barrington Venture, LLC, which intends to retain long-term ownership, has contracted with Life Care Services LLC of Des Moines, Iowa, to manage the community. "This is a portfolio undertaking for us," said Gansz. "We plan to take this concept nationally and have a second major parcel of land under option in New York." ###
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Home
| A Location You'll Love | Latest
News | Spacious Residences | Gracious
Amenities
Outstanding Services | Healthy
Living | Continuing Care | Leadership
Team | Yes, I want to know more