Leaders at Brewster Place in Topeka, Kansas, knew they would want to embark on an expansive revitalization effort to convey a constructing on the senior dwelling group into the twenty first century.
Nearly unchanged since 1968, the five-story concrete constructing, generally known as the Redwood constructing, was virtually “caught in a time capsule.”. Within the Nineteen Nineties, the group added a coated cover, which had a post-modern really feel. However the designs had been dated and didn’t meet the wants of the encircling group as of the 2020s.
“Redwood was our oldest constructing on campus,” Brewster Place CEO Mary Blubaugh informed Senior Housing Information. “We knew we wished to assist convey this group into the longer term.”
The group underwent a sweeping renovation plan that added new flats, up to date facilities and upgraded frequent areas with emphasis on making the group extra roomy, upscale and cozy.
Due to that course of, the once-dated group has reclaimed its former glory – and it has taken the highest spot in the Renovation and Repositioning (Constructing) class as a part of the 2024 Senior Housing Information Structure and Design awards.
The idea
Preliminary planning for the renovation began within the spring of 2021 following a feasibility research to find out subsequent steps that must be taken. Brewster Place selected to work with structure agency RDG Planning & Design and set to work on designs. Chicago-based funding financial institution Zeigler offered financing for the challenge.
The challenge group sought to renovate the group in a number of phases, permitting for residents to maneuver in and due to this fact pay hire to assist cowl the price of building.
The challenge group envisioned including impartial dwelling models and a sixth ground with penthouse models to the Redwood constructing on campus as a part of the $18 million renovation challenge to replace the constructing.
“We gutted the primary and fifth flooring and that was the genesis of how we acquired to what we envisioned,” mentioned. “There was a transparent imaginative and prescient and it paid off.”
The challenge group additionally envisioned renovating current models on the constructing’s first and fifth flooring with new facilities, finishes, ensuite loos and open-concept ground plans.
Designs referred to as for upgrades to the constructing’s fundamental kitchen and close by eating house to incorporate a number of seating choices in types starting from sit-down to grab-and-go.
The plan additionally referred to as for a brand new sport room and lounge house. Designers additionally sought to relocate the group’s arts and crafts studio to a extra outstanding location.
The challenge group prolonged elevator service to new flooring within the Redwood constructing to serve the brand new sixth ground models after enter from advertising employees, Blubaugh famous. Moreover, the design group added balconies to the constructing’s exterior to match inside renovations and supply extra space for residents.
The development
Building began within the fall of 2022 and was accomplished in a number of phases.
The challenge’s largest take a look at would come throughout building, which was dealt with by common contractor Simpson Building Service.
With residents nonetheless dwelling on the second, third and fourth flooring, the challenge risked inflicting disruptions to day by day life. So, Brewster Place employees did their finest to work round any ongoing building. The group additionally relocated some residents into totally different models to restrict the distractions attributable to the development disruption.
“Typically it felt like a struggle zone with all of the hammering and banging and every little thing that was occurring,” Blubaugh mentioned. “The primary problem was minimizing the impact on our residents.”
Nonetheless, sustaining a way of normalcy throughout building was a novel problem, notably with the first-floor eating house underneath renovation. The work necessitated the creation of a short lived basement-level eating space, the place employees introduced in meals from different kitchens on campus to serve to residents.
“It was a serious enterprise and it was not a pleasing time for our residents who lived right here throughout building, however all of them get pleasure from what now we have now and it’s a ravishing place for them,” Blubaugh mentioned.
After a pair opening phases unfold over two years – residents moved in to the primary ground in 2023 and building crews completed the fifth and sixth flooring final 12 months –
The mud lastly settled in Might 2024.
“Each ground in Redwood had some building work” ultimately, Blubaugh mentioned.
In a nod to its historical past, Brewster began renovations on Dec. 2, 2021 on the identical day the group first broke floor on Dec. 2, 1962 when it was initially constructed.
“Our advertising group did a implausible job of taking a look at these dates and planning for it, and we had an open home on the anniversary,” Blubaugh mentioned.
The completion
At the moment, the challenge stands remodeled from its preliminary Nineteen Sixties design.
Residents have entry to renovated eating and kitchen areas, an up to date sport room and lounge house and a relocated arts and crafts studio.
A number of of the areas had been designed to evoke consolation and emotions of residence with heat lighting, snug furnishings and intimate nooks for gathering.
In all, 23 new flats had been added, together with new penthouse models.
The resident flats, as soon as dated, now resemble high-end condos outfitted with chrome steel home equipment, open ground plans that includes excessive ceilings and transom home windows and prolonged balconies.
The challenge remained largely on-budget outdoors of the addition of the prolonged elevator to service the sixth ground residences, in response to Blubaugh. The ensuing renovated group is “greater than what we deliberate,” she added.
“Our residents adore it and it’s a ravishing place,” Blubaugh mentioned. “The frequent space is completely attractive.”
SHN Structure and Design Choose Ben Seager referred to as the Brewster Place renovation a “nice design, each inside and exterior.”
Residents have taken a liking to the brand new pizza oven within the kitchen and eating space, whereas guests are impressed throughout excursions of the renovated constructing, Blubaugh mentioned.
The group’s success can also be measured via occupancy. Brewster Place has already stuffed all however two of the brand new models, and impartial dwelling occupancy at present sits at 96%.
Actually, the challenge was so profitable and interesting that Brewster Place plans to characteristic the newly renovated constructing in future advertising supplies and on social media.
“It is a nice transformation from an previous, dated constructing to 1 that residents will be proud to name residence,” Seager mentioned.
