The Outlook at Windhaven in Plano, Texas, aims to deliver an amenity-rich environment that supports purposeful living when it opens in fall 2024.
The campus will house 30 cottage homes and 153 independent living (IL) units, plus a 56-unit assisted living and memory care building.
To emphasize community, the IL cottages feature porches that face circulation paths, while the overall campus plan organizes units and amenities to foster encounters between neighbors.
Here, project manager Kelly Dockweiler, associate at Three (Dallas), shares the inspiration for the cottage approach and project planning.
Environments for Aging: How did cottage living become a priority on this project?
Kelly Dockweiler: It started as a “good neighbor” gesture: placing cottages on the southern portion of the site in proximity to residential blocks made the development more appealing to the community and easier to win approvals.
From there, the development scale climbs gradually to three stories and then five (for the assisted living and independent living apartments, respectively), making the development economically feasible. Interestingly, the cottages sold first. The balance between the feel of a single-family home and the connectedness to both on-site amenities and the Plano neighborhood made them a popular choice.
How is the campus organized to encourage resident engagement?
The entire community is connected by walking paths through and around the residences and amenities, ensuring frequent opportunities for spontaneous encounters with neighbors.
The focus on encounters is emphasized by the inclusion of outdoor gathering spaces among four interconnected courtyards and the placement of cottage porches facing circulation areas. The pool, fitness center, dining, and multipurpose spaces create additional places to mingle.
What’s the biggest challenge in providing access to the outdoors for seniors?
Resident safety is paramount, of course, so we work closely with our landscape architect and other partners to reduce the risk of those with (or without) mobility challenges encountering trips and falls.
The site is being shaped to ensure gently sloping outdoor grading, and the selection of materials avoids unnecessarily rough or slippery surfaces. Appropriate night lighting is also important, as are pathways wide enough to accommodate mobility devices like wheelchairs.
How do you approach the planning of outdoor spaces to ensure their success?
We always work closely with our clients to understand the desires and needs of the specific market segment they are targeting. We want to understand the likely frequency of use of specially designated areas so we can plan the community appropriately for the likely resident population.
For example, Outlook at Windhaven will have an outdoor yoga setting, while another community’s residents might prefer pickleball or bocce. Where possible we create outdoor spaces that accommodate a variety of accessible activities, so the space doesn’t eventually become underutilized.
What other trends in senior living design are on your radar?
The integration of senior living communities into the larger fabric of society is critical. Combining location and landscape into a direct connection to local amenities, such as Outlook’s footpath to a nearby park, is something we encourage for all new developments.
We also recommend choosing site locations near town centers, universities, amenity hubs, cultural institutions, and the like. Regular interaction with families and younger generations is good not just for seniors but for everyone.
