Design Center

The Windsor of Lakewood Ranch
BRADENTON, FLORIDA
PROJECT SUMMARY

Type of Facility/Setting: Assisted Living Community
Chief Administrator: Jason Rosenberg, Residence Director, (941) 907-9177
Architecture: Harper Aiken Partners, Inc., Kevin Donahue, (305) 476-1102
Interior Design: Stanzione Associates, (941) 365-1234
Photography: ¬2005 Steven LeBlanc Photography
Resident Capacity: 80 studio and one-bedroom apartments
Total Project Area (sq. ft.): 68,000
Construction Cost: $6,000,000
Total Project Cost: $9,800,000
Cost/Sq. Ft.: $88/$144

West Indies panache
BY ROBERT VOLZER, CID, IIDA, VOLZER DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

Appealing to the region’s baby boomers who are selecting facilities for their aging parents, and complementary to the area’s country clubs, The Windsor’s tropical ‘West Indies’ theme offers a fresh approach for area consumers and provides a rich residential atmosphere,” says Cheryl Stanzione of Stanzione Associates. In addition to creating an impressive visual appeal, the design team carefully selected furnishings in the common areas for their scale (appropriate to the senior market), and serviceability. Crypton water-resistant fabrics, in colors and patterns that supported the design theme, were used for all upholstery materials to assist with maintenance and provide added protection from incontinence.

The property includes a diverse offering of eight studio and one-bedroom floor plans, ranging from 360 to 604 square feet. Despite the two-story design and the large footprint of the building, the design team succeeded in maintaining the warmth of homelike surroundings with interior architectural detailing, wood-trimmed “foyer-like” unit entries, residential-style lighting, and conversational groupings of furniture throughout the community. Other features include a dining room, cafT, country kitchen, coffee bar, and family dining area; a living room with a 55-inch television complete with surround sound; media and game rooms; a library; a screened lanai and courtyard; a personal-care suite for health and wellness evaluations and service; a therapeutic spa; and a beauty salon.

The living units include such details as a shoulder-height wall opening between the bedroom and living area to allow daylight throughout each suite, a surface-mounted sliding bathroom door, “curbless” showers, and a state-of-the-art emergency call system with voice response and wireless technology, allowing staff to respond to calls from anywhere in the building.

The building’s exterior design introduces the community’s West Indies theme with its elegant arches, which are echoed throughout the interior common areas. The grounds include a courtyard, a small lake, and views of wetland preserves adjoining the property.

Having had an opportunity to see this facility under construction, I now understand the reason for the “RESERVED” signs I saw on living unit doors, which were in place before the carpet, final painting, and even the furniture.


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