Crystal Spooner, developer and CEO of Orange Tree Village, is trying to change what intergenerational community-based housing looks like in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Her idea is an intentionally inclusive community, with phase one slated to open in fall 2016, that will combine 107 private-pay suites for all income levels and ages, a memory care suite, and two 12-bed pods with additional health and social support services that can be wrapped around residents as they age.
She shared how her idea came to fruition–and how she and coworkers continue to evolve the plan—during a session at the 2016 Environments for Aging Expo & Conference, held April 9-12 in Austin, Texas. “We’re just trying to do something really different,” she said.
For example, Spooner says she thought she had a good race-track design for memory care until she met environmental gerontologist Lorraine Hiatt at last year’s EFA Expo, who convinced her to do smaller pockets and break up the floor plan with dispersed activity and private spaces throughout. So Spooner scraped her plan and headed back home to work with her architect on reworking the layout to “give some meaningful opportunities for people there,” she said.
The second floor of the four-story building now features a memory care area and 12-unit pods with common areas and kitchens where universal-trained staff members multitask on everything from program planning to basic care needs. The memory care space also has a large balcony for residents that overlooks a nearby park. The pods can be opened up to each other or closed off depending on the needs of the residents.
Spooner envisions the second floor will be attractive to residents with higher acuity needs, while the building’s independent living units are designed for more multigenerational living and will include one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 400 to 900 square feet with a hospitality-based design.
The four-story complex will also house spaces to be shared with the community at-large, including a movement room, multipurpose room, and art studio on the basement level. “The concept is to offer some programming in-house as well as work with community organizations,” Spooner said.
The main floor integrates a hospitality-inspired concierge desk, lounge, and foyer area that’s designed to flow together with retail services, including a spa and hair salon, which are open to residents as well as the public.
Phase two will further integrate the building within the community with a separate facility for an independent school and wellness center. Spooner said the concept is designed to emphasize learning at any age with classes, programs, and daycare activities purposely designed to bring young and old residents together.
That effort has also provided one of the biggest challenges as the project team continues to try to adapt building codes and licensing to accommodate Orange Tree Village’s unique set-up.
