KEPHART partook in our first R&D day to explore the topic of aging and what it means to age and live in style.

Listed below are the wide array of ideas that we generated.

ConTouring
ConTouring appeals to a flexible lifestyle which starts with the design of an adaptable market-rate apartment that expands/contracts based on resident needs. The home utilizes state-of-the-art technology designed for those who are 50+ to optimize continual independent living.  The apartment is part of a larger network which allows residents to exchange their apartment with any in the network to travel, visit family/friends or to accommodate a live-in care giver.

For more information about ConTouring, click here.

Common Threads
Common Threads is a non-profit community service program which fosters the bond between generations by highlighting their “common threads” through storytelling. Common Threads will achieve this goal primarily through a high school program where students are taught the skills necessary to interview individuals who are 70+ about their life experiences. These stories will be recorded, archived, and made available to the public to serve as a link between past, present, and future generations. Other services will grow from this mission; including education, generational mentoring, and a searchable historical archive for the community.

For more information about Common Threads, click here. 

The Grow House
The Grow House is a home designed for indefinite occupancy by the owner.  This is accomplished by including universal design-based appliances and an additional flexible living space called “The Adiutor” (Latin for Helper) within the home. The flexibility of this homes’ space allows for many uses beyond the benefit of being able to age-in-place for as long as possible. The flex space accommodates the varying needs of an evolving family cycle. The space can be utilized for a home daycare provider, rented out for extra income, or transitioned into living quarters for an assisted-care provider.

For more information about The Grow House, click here.

Home Retirement vs. Retirement Home
87% of people reject institutionalized housing, choosing to maintain their independence at home at any cost.  By deconstructing a retirement home into its basic parts and injecting it into a suburban context, a helper or “facilitator” within the neighborhood will enable aging residents within a localized radius or “HRN” (Home Retirement Network) to safely maintain their independence.  Our aging population is often downsizing, no longer able to gain access to a basement or second level.  Locating our facilitators into these spaces will repurpose otherwise wasted space for a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.

 For more information about Home Retirement, click here.

Lighthouse
Lighthouse is a community-based organization that provides personal assistance on all things “life-centered” with the support of a life coach.  Our goal is to be a local, trustworthy source to help individuals that are over 50 achieve their goals and connect with the people and resources they need to make their lives easier and more fun!

For more information about Lighthouse, click here.

Sunrise Valley
Welcome to Sunrise Valley. Where the Forever Young Live.  Our community was designed with the AGE-LESS (Assisted Generational Environment providing Love, Energy, and Sustainable Spaces) at heart in body and mind.   This community provides an all-encompassing environment of service and activities for all ages and needs while providing a stress-free environment in regards to mobility by designing around the RTD Light Rail.

For more information about Sunrise Valley, click here.

 The Tree House
“Things do not change’ we change.” Henry David Thoreau.   The Tree House is designed to challenge this idea; to allow homes to easily adapt and grow as lives change.  This is done through the addition/subtraction of attached modules known as “branches,” or detached accessory dwelling units known as “seeds.”  The core home starts with a universally designed living space built to accommodate the addition of multiple branches.  Branches can be added in multiple configurations depending on lot size.  Seeds, like the core house, are designed to stand alone so when no longer needed they can be sold or gifted to family.

For more information about The Tree House, click here.

Did you miss us at the show or do you want to see our presentations again? Posted beneath each session description is a link to the presentation. Enjoy!

The Art of the Small Community
Tuesday, January 22 – 10:30 to Noon
North 264
Chris Grady
The tide is shifting away from larger homes to “right-sized” ones. It is now trendy to downsize, and homeowners prize quality-over-quantity. This applies not only to floor plans but also to communities. This session will explore practices and benefits for designing compact communities that appeal to a broad-range of consumers looking to trade space for convenience and a more connected living experience. Through smaller lots, indoor/outdoor living and shared open space, these communities encourage social interaction and conserve resources which creates a unique sense of place. Divided into two segments, the program will include a panel discussion of small community design principals and an in-depth look at relevant case studies.

Click here to view the presentation

Cutting Edge Design Solutions for 2013
Tuesday, January 22 – 10:30 to Noon
South 224-225
Doug Van Lerberghe
This seminar will showcase many of the latest and greatest design solutions for 2013. The most relevant plans, elevations, details and merchandising techniques will be shown in a fast-paced program that touches on every home type from production to high-end custom-designed homes. Every room in the house will be discussed, and topics will include kitchens, baths, bars, fireplaces, vanities, bedroom walls, ceiling details, thresholds, moldings and more. You’ll be sure to walk away with relevant design tips to use on your next project, so keep the sketchbooks handy!

Click here to view the presentation

Green Angles is the Place to Be, Solar Building is the Life for Me: Solutions to Maximize Solar
Tuesday, January 22 – 2:30 to 4:00 pm
North 260
Chris Grady
Many homebuilders are still planning neighborhoods and communities with no consideration for solar orientation. Systems can be added to homes to make them more energy efficient, but good orientation on its own decreases home operating costs by reducing the reliance on the heating and cooling system and artificial lighting. Join a panel of industry experts (a national homebuilder, architect, and land planner) to learn techniques to maximize solar access and ways to adjust home plans to harness the warmth of the sun during the winter and protect from excessive heat during the summer.

Click here to view the presentation

Designing Your Multifamily Project to Meet Market Demand
Wednesday, January 23 – 9:30 to 10:30 am
Mutlifamily Central, North 255
Cindy Harvey
This session in Multifamily Central will help you understand how to address the most essential questions before moving ahead with a project or land purchase, such as: What is your market? Do you have sufficient demand? What type of product would work best for the site? In short, you’ll leave with a comprehensive understanding of how the market analysis is a helpful tool in designing your multifamily project.

Click here to view the presentation

Flying Horse is a beautiful championship golf community in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Flying Horse Apartments were conceptually imagined to blend seamlessly with existing residences culminating in a superbly planned community of breathtaking views, remarkable amenities and incomparable residential offerings.

The Westerly on Lincoln in Marina Del Rey, CA received a serious face lift in 2012.  Peak West Development, KEPHART’s client on the project, specializes in the revitalization of under-performing properties, resulting in a dynamic product with drastically improved fiscal returns.  The collaboration included LandStudio 360 who oversaw landscaping.  A picture is worth a thousand words and you’ll find that the before and after photos below speak volumes.

A view from the corner of Lincoln and Marina Pointe reflects some dramatic aesthetic changes that make a big difference.  With the exception of the curved windows at the corner, all windows and doors were replaced.  A smart new energy efficient window product allowed for framing to slide into place eliminating the need to remove stucco or damage existing fascia.  As you can see at the side center of the building, we designed in metal rain screen areas to key elevations to better relate to the contemporary look of surrounding buildings in the neighborhood. At the top right of the building you will see we designed metal channel awnings as well as metal panels placed at the curved corners of the building to tie the elevation together.  Impracticable “store front” balcony coverings that retained heat to the extent they rendered the balconies unusable were replaced with operating windows.

Similar design concepts were applied at the main entrance of the community.  Landscaping by LandStudio 360 was utilized in conjunction with the remodel to give a fresh new look, everything was pulled out and replaced.  The effect of something as unassuming as changing out the palms was impressive.   More dramatically, an undulating illumination wall was installed at the entry drive to create a contemporary vibrancy.  Additionally, homes received new railings to open up the building and make it more welcoming to potential residents.

A new entry drive water feature completely changes the feel of the leasing center exterior.  New ceiling tiles and the addition of lighting continues themes from the illumination wall and creates a far more contemporary space.

Bright and airy was the end objective for the refurbished leasing center.  The new glass entry opens up the space to prospective tenants and serves as a great visual pass through to the amazing amenities the apartments have to offer.  New lighting and the installation of a new indoor/outdoor reflective terrazzo floor also contribute to creating well-designed flow in the space.  Several very decisive design  choices were made to open up this subterranean space to the outdoors.

The water feature at the base of the pool deck was transformed into a water wall.  This allowed for the construction of restrooms at its base which eliminated the reliance on the use of leasing office and club house facilities by residents enjoying the pool.  Again, to create a more open space, the stair and pool deck railing were changed resulting in a more contemporary space.

The pool deck was too small to serve the number of residents in the space at peak hours.  To accommodate a larger number of residents, the pool deck was widened and expanded into the lower courtyard.  The spa was relocated to the opposite end of pool allowing for deck extension and the inclusion of a water feature was facilitated to screen private residential decks.  Additionally, the new fire and water fountain feature brought ambiance to what was a pedestrian space.  The pool sundeck expansion included the creation of an outdoor kitchen and grilling area.

Again, in an effort to open spaces up, the planters in the courtyard outside of the clubhouse/leasing office were cut back to allow for more seating and social gathering area.  This theme was repeated throughout the community, which includes a total of 5 courtyards with connecting pathways. The movable “disappearing wall” opens the amenity space for a seamless transition from indoors to outdoors.

In the community courtyard spaces, dining and seating areas with grills, fire pits, and water features were added to create both active and leisure social gathering places.  Pathways were redesigned to cut back the encroaching landscaping to create true connectivity throughout the complex.  Internal amenity spaces saw several improvements as well.

The community screening room was revamped with an extended seating area and storage.

With the move of the bathrooms out to the pool area we were able to double the square footage of the exercise facility.

To better assist with leasing processes and resident needs, we created a concierge station instead of a reception desk.  We relocated leasing agents to a separate office space to provide them with direct access to amenity spaces and models, which has remarkably improved the touring process.

Big Horn cabins are an addition to the already extremely popular cabin homes at Rendezvous. These vacation retreats provide generous square footage and abundant flexibility with custom lots, providing owners the opportunity to host the most impressive of family events throughout the year in the beauty of the Colorado Rockies. The cabin’s mountain architecture is rendered in barn-style natural wood and accented by glass walls and clerestories to bring in light. Aside from the indulgences nature provided, interior luxuries include a fireplace, gourmet kitchen, a second living area and two outdoor covered patios.

This urban infill community is close to Denver’s central business district and is nestled in a gentrified neighborhood that’s experiencing revitalization with both new and established businesses. The building’s design provides an authentic downtown experience for entry-level young professionals with the benefit of easy access to employment, restaurants and services. To escape the urban rush, an intimate, elevated courtyard with several outdoor living rooms provides an excellent retreat and special place for residents to gather.

Wheat Ridge Town Center is the exemplification of urban redevelopment. Public and private sectors joined forces to transform a previously blighted brownfield into a thriving residential community to satisfy the City of Wheat Ridge’s need for affordable housing for its aging population. The apartment community serves as the spark for this revitalization, with architecture that encourages socialization and physical activity in the heart of an amenity rich urban environment.

If you’ve been following the KEPHART Ideas blog you already know that several of us here at KEPHART took advantage of the fact that the ULI Fall Meeting was hosted in Denver.  While my co-worker Bobby Long jumped on a B-Cycle tour to learn more about downtown lifestyles, I hit the bricks for an Eco-Friendly Vertical Living Walking Tour.

The tour began at Nichols Partnership’s Spire development.  This 41-story project at 14^th and Champa is LEED certified.  Chris Crosby, Executive Vice President at Nichols Partnership led the tour and emphasized the project’s philosophy of “attainability and sustainability.”  The sustainable half of this concept is represented in the Spire’s many green features such as a LEED-compliant air-filtration system, trash-recycling chutes on all floors, and finish materials made of recycled items.  The building is heated by central boilers fueled by district steam, and its walkable downtown location and nearby B-Cycle station makes car ownership optional for residents.  Further, much of the development and construction team made the most of a financing delay by using the costly downtime to become LEED Accredited Professionals.  Despite the additional cost to attain LEED certification, the developer remained focused on attainability by standing by a commitment to offer 60% of the homes for $400,000 or less. 

The second stop on the tour was Zocalo Development’s Solera project located at 20^th and Lawrence.  Tracy Reeder, Community Manager at Solera, led the tour.  Tracy began the presentation by pointing out that sustainability was, in many ways, put into the hands of the residents with personal energy monitors.  TED (The Energy Detective) is an electricity monitor provided in each home that provides instant energy feedback in dollars and cents, allowing consumers to track their energy use and thus lower electric bills.  Additionally, occupancy sensors and high-efficiency lighting are installed in every apartment to ensure the lighting load is kept as low as possible.  Single stream recycling and compost stations are available on every floor.  Like the Spire, Solera promotes alternative transportation with the inclusion of bike racks and a bike repair shop.  Solera obtained LEED Gold status by undergoing a vigorous construction process that included the use of 10% recycled material and 20% locally produced materials, the recycling of 82% of all construction waste, the integration of a white TPO membrane roof with a solar photovoltaic system, and wood products approved by the Forest Stewardship Council.

We concluded the tour at another Zocalo project, 2020 Lawrence.  The tour was conducted by Emilie Baratta, Director of Finance and Development at Zocalo.  Sustainability is a guiding principal at Zocalo so like Solera, 2020 Lawrence is LEED Gold certified.  Emilie reported that the energy efficient design of the project will save future residents up to 50% in utility costs, and that the installation of low flow toilets came with a $100,000 rebate from Denver Water.  Recycling and composting stations are also available for residents.  Sustainable features unique to this community include the infrastructure for a future hydroponic community greenhouse on the roof, and the use of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC systems.

The tour was well attended by professionals from around the country, each presenting thoughtful questions and insightful observations.  The warm hospitality extended by Chris, Tracy, and Emilie, along with the camaraderie of participants and the generosity of the volunteer tour guides more than offset the biting winds of a cold October day in Denver.