Looking to meet market demands for the next 20 years, Woodside Senior Communities in Green Bay, Wis., partnered with Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc. (Appleton, Wis.) to develop a phased campus repositioning plan. The first phase, assisted living memory care and skilled nursing, was completed in September 2014, while Phase 2, which focused on rehabilitation, was completed in October 2015.
The primary objectives were to bring assisted living memory care to the campus (accomplished with a 20-unit addition), enhance through renovation the existing skilled nursing facilities, and provide a fully outfitted rehabilitation center—the newly designed and constructed 49-unit Woodside Rehab.
Managing a renovation and new construction project while Woodside continued with daily operations was a balancing act. To minimize the impact to staff and residents, Hoffman developed an incremental phased approach with Woodside and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services that not only kept the project on track, but added increased value to the design of the facility.
One example of this occurred within the memory care area, where assisted living units were being added adjacent to existing skilled nursing units marked for renovation. Since the skilled units couldn’t be remodeled while occupied, the new assisted units were designed to community-based residential facility and skilled nursing facility standards.
This enabled Woodside to move residents into the new assisted units so the existing skilled units could be renovated. The residents still received the level of care they required in a licensed facility, and after renovations were complete, Woodside simply moved them back to their skilled units.
This approach not only streamlined the construction process, but the new assisted living memory care area had the benefit of being designed to higher healthcare standards.
Although it’s connected to assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and serves those residents, as well, Woodside Rehab caters to a diverse client demographic. A transitional care facility, Woodside Rehab was designed to meet the needs of its short-term patients—many who prefer not to rehab in a nursing home environment.
Woodside Rehab’s design has a modern look and feel and offers a sense of hospitality throughout. Patient rooms are accessible for varying levels of care, yet closely resemble a fine hotel room with all the amenities. The lobby and front desk also provide a concierge atmosphere and sitting/visiting areas are connected to the outdoors, giving a sense of freedom to come and go as you please.
In addition, the rehab center features multiple real-life settings for patients to utilize as they work toward recovery. This includes the latest in rehab equipment; a partial car; mock apartment that includes a restroom and kitchen, living, and sleeping spaces; and a multi-surfaced courtyard.
The campus’s new main entrance, located at Woodside Rehab, was a key design element of the repositioning. Hoffman’s inclusion of a porte cochère offers curb appeal while helping create a new identity for Woodside and serve as a landmark in the village.
The changes made at Woodside Rehab, in particular, are an example of the growing trend with healthcare facilities. What was once reflective of a traditional, medical-model approach has slowly transitioned to be more residential in nature or hospitality driven to enhance residents’ and patients’ overall experience and well-being.
Project breakdown:
Completion date: Fall 2014; Fall 2015
Owner: Woodside Senior Communities
Architect: Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc.
Interior design: DesignWorks Studio
Engineering: Romes Design Inc., Meyer Borgman Johnson, Mach IV Engineering & Surveying LLC
Construction: Hoffman Planning, Design & Construction Inc.
Total building area (sq. ft.): 31,000; 41,600
Total construction cost: $13.3 million
