From building types to care offerings, senior living presents a wide array of choices, reflecting its diverse landscape. Yet, among this diversity, a unified focus emerges: the importance of design. In a recent conversation with Johnny Dagher of Baker Barrios Architects, we emphasized the importance of design across all facets of the sector.
Illinois Real Estate Journal: How does your firm prioritize architectural elements to meet the evolving needs of seniors in independent living, assisted living, and memory care within their housing designs?
Johnny Dagher: Understanding the end user has a huge impact on the architectural design and the spaces we create for those residents. Recognizing that the needs of seniors will evolve over time, we incorporate adaptability and flexibility into our designs. All the kitchens and bathrooms we design have the same level of finishes one expects at a modern multi-family apartment, while being easily converted to a full ADA compliant space. This ensures that the built environment remains functional throughout different stages of residents’ lives.
Illinois Real Estate Journal: Can you highlight any specific innovative design solutions or architectural trends being integrated into new senior housing projects or renovations to enhance residents’ quality of life and well-being?
Dagher: We’re seeing tech integration like never before (key fobs, Wi-Fi, personal iPads), along with much more inter-generational gathering spaces — such as cafes located in visiting areas.
Biophilic design continues to be important to support the health and wellness of residents, along with more sensory-rich spaces and stimulating environments for memory care patients.
Illinois Real Estate Journal: How does your firm approach the balance between functionality and aesthetics in the design or renovation of senior housing properties?
Dagher: I’d like to think that we recognize that achieving harmony between functionality and aesthetics is crucial to creating environments that not only meet the practical needs of seniors but also enhance their overall quality of life. Our interior designers strive to provide an atmosphere that feels like home rather than an institution. This means creating spaces that are warm and inviting, and that promote a sense of belonging and familiarity.
Illinois Real Estate Journal: How does the architectural design of a senior housing facility impact the experience for residents and staff, and are there any specific strategies your firm uses to promote community and social engagement among residents?
Dagher: Architecture and interior design can change and even dictate behaviors. For example, a simple seating layout can impact the level of conversation and interactions that take place within a space or a senior living community. Designing while constantly thinking about how the end user will experience a space is crucial to the success of the communities we design.
As for the staff (nurses, caregivers and administrative personnel), they play a pivotal role in how successful a facility functions and operates. With the level of turnover that has been seen in this industry over the last few years, it is vital that the facilities we design have their best interest in mind. That’s why you’ll see many of the high-level finishes in residents’ kitchens and bathrooms extend to staff lounges and laundry rooms. Part of our design process includes meeting with the staff of recently completed facilities to get their take on how we can improve upon the current design.
Illinois Real Estate Journal: What steps does Baker Barrios take to integrate sustainability practices into the design or renovation of senior housing properties?
Dagher: While not every project we design is in pursuit of LEED certification, we strive to follow many of the same LEED principles when designing a new senior living community. Integrating natural lighting and focusing on indoor air quality have become “must-have” post-pandemic solutions. Specifying local products made from recyclable materials may have seemed once to be an unachievable choice, but supply and demand interruptions may have inadvertently resulted in clients and contractors being more open to greener local alternative finishes.
Illinois Real Estate Journal: As the industry evolves, how do you foresee technology influencing the architectural design of senior housing, and are there any emerging tech-driven trends being incorporated into your design process?
Dagher: Baker Barrios has been a leader in implementing virtual reality technologies in the design process for a few years. This allows clients to “walk through” their future building before it’s even built. We foresee more reliance on this technology, especially with the current advancements in AI. I believe AI will also have a huge impact on the technologies available for seniors (fall detection and prevention, health monitoring, medication management, virtual companions, etc.).
Illinois Real Estate Journal: When renovating existing senior housing properties, what are the primary architectural considerations to ensure the space meets modern standards while preserving its original character or functionality?
Dagher: When assessing an existing building for adaptive reuse, the primary considerations are life safety, programming and volume (floor-to-ceiling clearance):
1. What will it take for the existing building to meet the current code requirements needed for the specific occupancy? Life safety is the most fundamental consideration when design any building.
2. Can we fit the program needed for by the client and operator to make sure the building will function as needed?
3. Openness is a fundamental concept of modern architecture. It allows for flexible solutions, high ceilings, natural lighting, etc. Finding architectural and structural solutions to create openness can have a huge impact on how successful a renovation is perceived.
