When Smith Senior Living (Chicago) set out to expand the continuum of care at its Orland Park, Ill., campus by adding a rehabilitation center, it wanted the new facility to break the mold of the institutional, hospital-like, skilled nursing environment of traditional rehab design and introduce a hospitality-inspired care setting.
Greenleaf Rehab at Smith Crossing’s project team, including architect AG Architecture (Wauwatosa, Wis.), interior designer MDP/Merlino Design Partnership (Philadelphia, Pa.), and contractor Weis Builders (Chicago), focused on taking cues from boutique hotels. The intent was to create an inspired entry sequence with inviting gathering spaces and an enticing dining venue to welcome guests and visitors upon arrival. The strategy for making dining a focal point stems from the psychology behind aromas-evoking memories. The smells from cooking are reminders of home and in this case are used as triggers to draw guests out of their rooms. Instead of remaining isolated, this encourages guests to explore and socialize— supporting a healthy recovery progression.
Greenleaf Rehab refers to its residents as guests, as this better reflects a hospitality experience where people come for a short period of time and then return home. This follows the senior living industry’s transition from the word patient to resident.
The 45,222-square-foot Greenleaf Rehab, completed in September 2020, features a light-filled, two-story lobby and vibrant dining venue to create a hub of activity, similar to a boutique hotel. The space plan then thoughtfully separates public and private spaces along an easy-to-navigate circular path with an outdoor courtyard at that the heart of the plan.
Adjacent to an outdoor courtyard, the therapy suite includes an activities of daily living unit, which includes a kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, as well as physical therapy equipment and access to a walking path with uneven surfaces and different terrains to support a comprehensive recovery program. The full-service offering includes physical, occupational, and speech therapy as well as restorative care.
While active communal spaces are located adjacent the entry, the guest suites are positioned deeper in the floor plan to create more private areas for rest and quiet recuperation. Nurse’s stations function as care bases but were designed to be more reminiscent of concierge desks. They are positioned at the intersection of the guest suite corridors. The 46 private spacious guest suites include fully accessible bathrooms and have room-service style dining. A spa-like bathing suite is available for guests who need physical assistance with self-care beyond their private bathroom showers. This space is also used for therapeutic treatments to support recovery. Refreshment stations and lounge areas provide areas for respite.
Project Details:
Facility name: Greenleaf Rehab at Smith Crossing
Location: Orland Park, Ill.
Completion date: September 2020
Owner: Smith Senior Living
Total building area: 45,222 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $14.7 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $325
Architecture firm: AG Architecture
Interior design: MDP | Merlino Design Partnership
General contractor: Weis Builders
Engineering: Reyn Engineering (structural), AG Engineering (MEP)
Food Service: SCOPOS Hospitality Group
