Strength, function, and beauty are three ideals that ancient Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius sought to capture in his work. And all these years later, they stand true, especially in creating environments for older adults.

The Environments for Aging Remodel/Renovation Competition, published in the Fall issue, is an annual opportunity for providers and design teams to showcase how they approached a successful renovation project and what concepts were hallmarks of their designs. This year’s 63 submissions from across the United States provide an opportunity to learn from those collective experiences.

The competition category was single spaces, which included dining spaces, resident rooms, activity areas, courtyards, spa/wellness areas, chapels, theaters, salons, and other resident zones. The intent was to recognize areas that promote socialization, engagement, and a sense of community.

As with previous years, the most successful projects were those that addressed changes to the physical environment while considering their effect on operations and the program.


The projects were reviewed by a panel of experts from the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE) and the finalists were voted on by Environments for Aging readers. The projects ranged in size from a few hundred square feet to thousands and in cost from $25 per square foot to $410. Despite their differences, each renovation strove to improve the experience of residents, staff, and family members, with the ultimate goal of a contemporary rebalancing of strength, function, and beauty.

Following are some of the key trends observed from all of the submissions.

Focal points. Many communities concentrated on the creation or revitalization of existing focal points, often used to assist with wayfinding and activities and to serve as social hubs of a community. The changes went beyond a typical freshening up and looked at what services are offered and how the design can support the experience of users. A major feature of these changes was the physical integration of previously added technology in the form of flat-screen monitors, video-gaming systems, and other communication/audiovisual equipment.

Food. Each year, many remodels set out to improve the dining experience. This year, the trend continues, with changes including improved access to natural light and higher quality of artificial lighting as well as increased sensory stimulation with the ability to see and smell the food being served. An emphasis was also placed on increasing the number of dining options, breaking down the scale of dining spaces, and providing casual and formal venues.

Non-revenue space. Several communities looked beyond generating revenue to enhancing the overall resident services package by converting apartments to spaces such as lounges, game rooms, and bistros. Moves like these stand to have a long-lasting impact, which will eventually trickle down to the bottom line.

Design styles. With entries from across the U.S., projects capture interior design styles and color palettes that vary greatly due to regional and cultural context. However, a high percentage of the interior designs presented bold changes. For example, if a community lived with an interior design style classified by lighter colors in a monochromatic palette, the renovation switched to a variety of darker tones. The opposite was also observed—both ensuring a dramatic effect.

Architectural detail. A variety of submissions enhanced the architectural detailing of communities, often through surfaces specifically (ceiling, walls, and floors). The changes went beyond a typical focus on lighting, color, and texture and looked at creating a sense of depth with details that create visual interest.

Details on the competition-winning project and highlights from all of the submissions will be presented at the Environments for Aging Expo & Conference April 9-12, 2016, in Austin, Texas.

Andrew Lee Alden is senior planner/designer for Eppstein Uhen Architects (Milwaukee), writing on behalf of the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE). He can be reached at andrewa@eua.com.