January 1, 2002 |

SWBR Architects & Engineers, PC, Ferris Hills at West Lake

Ferris Hills at West Lake – Canandaigua, New York
SWBR Architects & Engineers, PC – Rochester, New York

Type of Facility/Setting: Independent Living/Enriched Senior Living Community

Facility Contact: Jim Doran

Firm: SWBR Architects & Engineers, PC, (716) 232-8300

Design Team: Thomas R. Gears, AIA, Architect (SWBR Architects & Engineers, PC); Gene Guskowski, Architect (AG Architects); Bridget Bohacz, ASID, Interior Designer (Bridget Bohacz & Associates); Burt Derr, Development Consultant (Greystone Communities); Andy Hislop, Contractor (LeCesse Construction)

Photography: Antonino Barbagallo, John Griebsch

Resident Capacity: 96 Independent Living apartments; 36 Enriched Living apartments

Space/Resident (sq. ft.): 1,370

Total Area (sq. ft.): 181,000

Total Cost (excluding land): $18 million

Cost/Sq. Ft.: $100

Completion: March 2001

Ferris Hills at West Lake has been deftly knitted together with its site and community to provide an upscale, residential, comfortable and secure environment for seniors in the Finger Lakes area of New York. The 96 Independent Living and 36 Enriched Living (Assisted Living) apartments provide a critical and natural extension of the not-for-profit Thompson Health System’s skilled nursing, dementia and medical areas of excellence. The project’s success resulted from cooperation among the New York State Department of Health, Ontario County, the town of Canandaigua, Thompson Health and the entire Design Team.

The community enjoys a commanding view of Canandaigua Lake from its 57-acre site. The preserved natural wooded edges buffer the neighboring residential developments. Natural storm drainage patterns have been enhanced with ponds, and a looped meandering path with appropriate resting stops has been integrated within the landscape. The community nestles comfortably along the hilltop. Below-grade parking structures are tucked beneath the three-story residential wings. The overall mass of the building is brought to a residential scale with vertical gable ends and porches. The exterior materials are varied, neutral tones of stone, clapboard, shake and trim elements.

A meandering “Main Street” links the Independent and Enriched residential wings. Along this spine, residents socialize in the Vista Lounge, browse in the Library, shop in the General Store, exercise in the Fitness/Therapy Suite, create in the Arts-and-Crafts areas or enjoy the extensive menus of the CafT and Dining Rooms. Residents are supported in leading as active and independent a lifestyle as possible.

Local artisans have crafted murals and paintings depicting Finger Lakes area landscapes, which complement the “Country French” interior design elements.

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