Located near bucolic Wompatuck State Park in Norwell, Mass., The Cordwainer is a 54-unit memory care community that will provide support services for older adults with memory impairment, including Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the project team, the 50,00-square-foot community fills an important gap in the market as a standalone memory care community. The Cordwainer aims to re-envision the care model by focusing entirely on a population that needs significant support, and by using design to enhance care and offer positive therapeutic impacts.
The two-story project is designed by The Architectural Team (TAT; Chelsea, Mass.) for owner Anthemion Senior Lifestyles (Weston, Mass.). It houses 47 single units and seven companion suites with private bedrooms and shared common space.
TAT’s design for the community prioritizes biophilia and connection to natural light and air that encourages nourishing sensory experiences. The entire indoor environment reflects the latest research in memory care, combining stimulation and relaxation.
Highlights include a living green wall, unique indoor and outdoor sensory gardens, and a materials palette that prioritizes wood and other natural elements.
A series of light wells help improve daylight penetration and promote year-round sensory stimulation for residents, even within the center of the community’s large floor plate.
The Cordwainer’s program also includes living and dining rooms on each floor to promote easier engagement for residents. The community-focused design allows residents to watch meal preparation or chef demos.
Additionally, the community offers quiet lounge spaces and activity and classroom areas—all directly outside the residential suites.
Key amenities include a salon, barber shop, fitness room, resource center, wood workshop, rejuvenation center, family suite, and a roof terrace.
Project details
Facility name: The Cordwainer
Location: Norwell, Mass.
Expected completion date: Summer 2022
Owner: Anthemion Senior Lifestyles
Total building area: 50,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: Confidential
Cost/sq. ft.: Confidential
Architecture firm: The Architectural Team
Interior design: The Architectural Team
General contractor: Nauset Construction
Builder: Nauset Construction
Engineer: McKenzie Engineering Group Inc. (civil), Michael E. Waterman PE (structural), Petersen Engineering Inc. (MEP, fire protection)
Landscape architect: Verdant Landscape Architecture
