Boardwalk Theme Brings Florida Fun Indoors (PDF)

THE VILLAGE AT VIENNA SQUARE

WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA

PROJECT SUMMARY

Type of Facility/Setting: Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living

Owner: TLC Management

Chief Administrator: Cullen S. Gibson, Vice President

Architecture and Interior Design: Interior Design-Jennifer Mathis, ASID, and Jan Crain, Direct Supply Aptura; Architects-Eric Brehm and Jeff Scray, Welman Architects

Photography: Cory Albrechtson, Direct Supply

Resident Capacity: 118 Skilled Nursing beds (including a 32-bed rapid-rehab wing and 18-bed Alzheimer’s wing); 34 Assisted Living units (including eight two-bedroom units and 26 one-bedroom units)

Budget: $400,000 (Aptura’s furniture, soft goods, signage and artwork)

Cost/Sq. Ft.: $124 (construction); $4 FF&E (interior finish materials)

Celebrating its grand opening in fall 2010, The Village at Vienna Square, the 101,000-square-foot, aging-in-place community located in Winter Haven, Florida, is a perfect example of how one design, renovation, and construction services firm brought the outdoors inside.

Designed by Direct Supply Aptura, a division of Direct Supply, the site is located in a highly competitive, but active market. Winter Haven is surrounded by numerous freshwater lakes and golf courses, and is near the well-known Cypress Gardens theme park, which sets the stage for a very active adult lifestyle.

This new construction for The Village at Vienna Square, which started in 2006, was the first in Florida for healthcare provider TLC Management, based in Indiana. Having no prior experience in this market, the owners of TLC Management wanted a building design that would create a “buzz” to draw in prospective residents. The owners also wanted the interior design to include numerous amenities that would reflect the lifestyle that Florida is known for and that its residents are accustomed to.

To give residents the sense of bringing the outdoors inside, Aptura used a “boardwalk” concept. The senior living design firm created a spacious atrium that sets the mood for residents as they encounter storefront façades adorned with architectural details, cheerful awnings, and custom-themed signage. The visual texture is enhanced by siding, stone, and shades. Faux windows with backlighting simulate daylight and give the setting a unique charm. A bright colored palette is paired with soft neutral colors, creating a vibrant, yet harmonious space. Thoughtfully arranged seating groups, tall plants, and a calming water feature produce intimate spaces for residents to linger and socialize.

The Surf Shop, a popular destination along the boardwalk, is covered by a thatched roof. Hand-painted surfboards and a custom mural depicting senior surfers enjoying a day at the beach enhance the theme. Window decals advertise food and amenities that are available in this dynamic retail shop. The interior is configured with casework, slat wall, and merchandising equipment to display menu items and sundries available for purchase. Trendy tables and chairs complete the scene for those who choose to stay and visit.

Vienna Square’s Sunset Media provides a contemporary entertainment venue for rainy indoor days. The façade features movie poster cases with race lighting. The posters are used to promote upcoming movies, televised events,

The Yacht Club serves as a semi-formal space for residents to celebrate sunny days with friends and family. An adjacent food preparation space and equipment are available so residents and visitors can prepare a home-cooked meal. Ambient lighting, rich wood tines, airy paint colors, and bold patterns mix to create a welcoming dining retreat.

The same coastal color palette and regional accents were incorporated into the rehabilitation wing of the building. Flooring materials and ceiling details are used to define the cozy seating area from the dining room, while lively fabrics and light wood tones unite the look of the space. Sturdy, small-scale furnishings are designed for rehab patients who need to use this space.

According to Aptura’s team, designing this boardwalk retreat was a challenging but rewarding project. At around $400,000, Aptura’s furniture, soft goods, signage, and artwork budget (not including beds or cubicle curtains) was extremely low for a new build. Architectural details, material and furnishing selections, and the color palette were all equally important elements that were balanced to support a welcoming, vibrant community that makes residents feel like every day is a day at the beach.

Long-Term Living 2011 March;60(3):46-48

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