Whitney Center, a not-for-profit senior living community that has been serving seniors since 1979, underwent a significant renovation and expansion to its campus between 2007-2011 and is now being recognized for the design and engineering achievements of the project.
Whitney Center’s campus occupies 15 acres near the west side of Lake Whitney. While the community is nestled in a quiet park-like setting, it is also conveniently located near the urban center of New Haven.
Guided by a volunteer Board of Directors, the residents, families and employees of Whitney Center form a community that promotes independence and wellness in a vibrant cultural atmosphere throughout the continuum of life-enhancing amenities along with supportive and long-term healthcare services.
Partnering with SFCS Architects of Roanoke, VA, general contractor KBE Building Corporation and development manager Eventus Strategic Partners, Whitney Center created a new seven-story building with 88 spacious new apartments, a new Cultural Arts Center, and a host of other amenities that were completed in 2011.
The new Main Street connector, a glass-walled interior promenade, boasts beautiful natural light and views of the outdoors and campus grounds. Exhibited along Main Street is an Art Gallery, open to the public three days a week. Two defined sections of the gallery allow for exhibits curated by the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and exhibits of original artwork by Whitney Center residents curated by the Resident Art Gallery Committee.
Environments for Aging (EFA) magazine cover photo featuring a model apartment in the new seven-story building at Whitney Center.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) in conjunction with LeadingAge, a non-profit organization dedicated to education, advocacy and applied research in the field of aging services, recently conducted its thirteenth biannual Design for Aging Review design competition (DFAR13). The Design for Aging Review is a biannual competition which showcases facilities that improve quality of life for the aging while exhibiting innovation in their design and execution. Twenty-nine projects, including Whitney Center, were chosen for inclusion by a panel of jurors, which included architects, facility managers, and care providers. The jury noted the “stellar engineering achievement” of Whitney Center’s expansion project, along with “the design (especially in the long central corridor) that supports whimsical living driven by community input.”
Submitted for review by SFCS Architects, Whitney Center has been selected to be included as a Published Project in the upcoming Design For Aging Review Thirteen companion book and the traveling exhibit that will appear in several locations throughout 2016. The companion book is currently in the works with a scheduled release date of Fall 2016.
In addition to the DFAR13 award, Environments for Aging (EFA), an organization offering the latest strategies and ideas for creating functional and attractive living environments that meet the needs of our aging population, awarded Whitney Center one of only four Honorable Mention awards. The jury felt the expansion project had very strong attributes and design elements. The publishers also selected Whitney Center’s model apartment to appear on the front cover of the EFA magazine. Whitney Center’s project has been published in the magazine and received special recognition in the print issue.
To view the four communities that received Honorable Mention Awards click here:
http://www.efamagazine.com/article/efa-design-showcase-honorable-mentions-elements-surprise
To view the EFA magazine click here:
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/efa/2016spring/
(Whitney Center is mentioned on pages 45, 86-87 and model apartment shown on cover of magazine)
To see an image of the Design for Aging Review traveling exhibit click here:
http://info.aia.org/blast_images/kc/DFA_15_blueprints4.html#news
For more information about Whitney Center, or to make an appointment to visit the community, call 203-848-2641 or click here.
