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Project
Overview
Within the emerging office-to-housing conversion trend, a new proposal would fill a niche: office to senior housing. We were entrusted to remodel this 42-year-old 40,000 sq.ft. office building on Folsom Boulevard, Sacramento into a RCFE and PACE facility and design a new building of 35,000 sq.ft. as an extension connecting to the existing building. The scope also included SD, DD, permit and CD packages, coordinating with structural and MEPF consultants and with the City of Sacramento for permit approval.
PACE is aimed at providing outpatient services to seniors that allow them to live independently for longer. But the proposal for 8795 Folsom Blvd., called Residential Care Facility for the Elderly, has a housing component as well. The facility once built will comprise of 65 rooms with 127 beds, a center for memory care, occupational therapy, clinic area, 3 dining rooms, kitchen, 2 recreation rooms, 2 theatre rooms, physical therapy, yoga and meditation rooms, fitness room, 2 salons, outdoor amenities, etc.
Site Area
3.54 acres
Built-up Area
74,731 sq.ft.
Type
Senior Living + Healthcare
No. of Beds
127
Parking Spaces
100
Service
Architectural Design, Planning Entitlement Clearance, Permit Set
Location
Sacramento, CA
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Pre
Design
Before we designed, we wanted to really get to know our stakeholders and understand their design expectations. Our Principal, visited various senior care facilities in California and interacted personally with many residents in these facilities to understand their unique needs. By doing so, we realised that it’s most important to design environments that connect people to each other, to their families, and to people with similar interests.
Our aim was to provide a residential care facility with an atmosphere that is warm and inviting, just like home, and promotes maximum possible independence and dignity for the seniors. These luxury accommodations with personalized care offer an array of services and amenities designed for comfortable and enriching retirement home experience.
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Design
Development
While remodelling the old building we planned for all the important activity areas to be situated around the landscaped central open to sky courtyard providing views and access to the green. The large therapy rooms open to the curvilinear patio outside providing community spaces to sit, relax and communicate. All the resident rooms on second floor feature private balconies providing ample access to sunlight and fresh air. The resident rooms in the new building are designed in a staggering pattern resulting in stepping and recessing of the external wall. This articulation along with the use of different colors, textures and materials add interesting character to the building façade.
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Landscape
Design
During our visit to various senior living facilities it was observed that seniors love to spend time outdoors the most. The idea was to create indoor environment that opens up to a secure outdoor discovery garden with plentiful shade, a soothing landscape with seasonal colors and engaging activities. We created enough opportunities for them to explore through various types of sitting and activity areas overlooking the lawn, colourful trees and flowering plants. Other amenities included barbeques, outdoor chess board, organic farming and meandering walkways.
Let's explore possibilities and goals together to shape a clear path forward.