As we enter the last quarter of 2009, I’m pleased to report that DFA has been very busy during the summer months. At a time when many of us are holding our breath, waiting for the world to return to some sense of normalcy, interest in DFA has increased beyond our expectations! For all of you who have volunteered to work on DFA subcommittees, we will be contacting you. Our goal for 2010 is to increase member participation in our sub committee structure and we are thankful for your continued patience and support. If you haven’t volunteered and would like to do so, please contact: dfa@aia.org.

NEW ADVISORY GROUP MEMBER
As many of you know, the Advisory Group adds one member every year. The response to our call was amazing, making the choice even more difficult. After much deliberation and consideration of all the talents and areas of expertise expressed in letters and resumes, the seat was offered to Stefani Danes, AIA.

Stefani has extensive experience in the design of housing and facilities for older persons and people with special needs. She is a registered architect and Principal in the firm of Perkins Eastman Architects and a faculty member of the School of Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University. As head of Perkins Eastman’s Research Collaborative, Stefani brought her expertise to DFA several years ago, leading the DFA subcommittee on research. During that time, Stefani shared her expertise in research and data collection methods to improve our existing post occupancy evaluation program and to jumpstart the POE Tool Kit.

Stefani also volunteered her time to take on the challenge of data mining the information collected via the Design for Aging Review 9th cycle (2007) competition. With a small grant from AIA and the generous support of Perkins Eastman, the hard work to review, sort, and assemble the raw data began in May of 2008. In October of 2008, she presented a professionally bound journal documenting the results. This information is now available on the DFA website: www.aia.org/dfa

DFA greatly appreciates her contribution to the profession and we welcome her to the Design for Aging Knowledge Community.

DFAR
DFA and AAHSA reached the twenty year mark for the bi-annual Design for Aging Review (DFAR) competition which showcases the best in senior housing design.
In spite of the gloomy scenarios in the world of design, we were astonished that submissions increased by 26%. This remarkable increase certainly validates our efforts to raise the bar on design and to improve the quality of life for older adults.

Preliminary findings from the jury indicate that issues of sustainability, total person wellness, and community relationships are now a normal part of project objectives. In addition, a significant number of projects were entered into the “affordable” category showcasing creative designs with financial challenges. And finally, we saw an increase in the attention and sensitivity to end of life issues with supportive designs in hospice care.

Thank you to all the firms who contributed to the success of Design for Aging Review 10.

Be sure to attend Sunday’s session at the AAHSA convention in Chicago. We will announce the winners of the competition as well as another Ten Year Award. The jury will offer their insight into the results of the competition as well as the deliberation process. Having personally witnessed the jurors in action, this will be a great session!

See you in Chicago!

Ingrid Fraley, 2009 Chair, Design for Aging Knowledge Community

Leading the Way to A Greener Future
by C. Bruce Chrisman
This article has been reprinted with permission from ADVANCE Newsmagazines.

Several strategies can improve building and energy performance while accommodating senior living design issues. Read more...

Support spiritual wellness through creative outdoor design
by Jack Carman, FASLA, and Nancy Carman, MA, CMC
This article originally appeared in ICAA Developer’s Guide 2008, pgs 33-40.

Outdoor settings can help older adults find ways to connect spirituality and wellness. Read more...

Next Generation
by Leslie Moldow

So why is it, when young architects are presented with this building type, there is a reticence to catch our fever? Young architects tell us that designing for aging is not “sexy”. Our junior architectural staff is haunted by old images of skilled nursing environments without realizing they can be part of the grand transformation.

We, the leaders of senior living design, need to encourage the next generation to be as passionate about what we do as we are! We need to cultivate the next leaders in this field, both within our offices and in our schools. In our offices we should be giving tours of innovative senior living facilities and presentations on best practices in design for aging. We should engage our staff with senior residents to overcome stereotypes. We should model a design process that asks, “Why?” and “What if?” that creates beautiful, special places for our elders.  Read more...

Querencia
Austin, TX
CSD Architects

Provider: Senior Quality Lifestyles

Architect’s Statement
Design objectives
1. To protect the native landscape, including native plantings, and to restore and re-create natural water features such as creek beds and waterfalls.
2. To create—on a busy street—a quiet, resort-style environment featuring a destination spa/wellness center. The campus is on a long and winding road, set back from the main street.
3. To follow a historical Texas architectural tradition, including using natural local stone and stucco; designing metal roof overhangs; and building into the landscape.

Tallgrass at Mill Creek
Geneva, IL
Dorsky Hodgson Parrish Yue
Provider: Friendship Village

Architect’s Statement

The design for this proposed CCRC integrates the facility into an existing smart-growth planned community. When completed, the 430,000-square-foot CCRC will integrate 196 independent living units and six health care households encompassing 30 assisted living and 36 skilled care units. The units will be united by a commons building and state-of-the-art wellness center.

Catch up with you colleagues, get event ideas and share your success! Read the latest updates from Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle and Northern California....

AAHSA Annual Meeting & Exposition
November 8 – 11, 2009; Chicago, Illinois
http://www.aahsaconference.org/

USGBC Greenbuild 2009
November 11 – 13, 2009; Phoenix, Arizona
http://www.greenbuildexpo.org/Home.aspx

The Gerontological Society of America
62nd Annual Scientific Meeting
November 18-22, 2009 • Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.geron.org/Annual%20Meeting

NHPCO’s 6th National Conference on Volunteerism and Family Caregiving
December 4-6, 2009; Walt Disney World Swan - Lake Buena Vista, Florida
http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=5260

Pioneer Network Events
http://www.pioneernetwork.net/Events/Upcoming/

Environments for Aging Conference
March 21–23, 2010, San Diego

WEB SEMINARS

Healthcare 101: Ambulatory Care Facilities
Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 2–3:30 p.m. ET, 1.5 LUs

How to Make In-Roads into Government Design-Build Projects
Tuesday, November 17, 2–3:30 p.m. ET, 1.5 LUs

FREE SUSTAINABLE DESIGN PROGRAMS ONLINE

The 2030 Challenge: Setting and Achieving Energy Goals with Integrated Design (1.5 LUs HSW/SD)
Tuesday, December 1, 2009, 2–3:30 p.m. ET
AIA Seattle and AIA National will jointly present this new Web seminar is free of charge to all AIA members. Based on the first of AIA Seattle’s AIA+2030 Professional Series, the session will be presented by Joel Loveland, professor of architecture and director, Integrated Design Lab for Puget Sound at the College of Built Environments, University of Washington. For more details, contact Janet Stephenson at janets@aiaseattle.org or 206-448-4938.

NEW: Google SketchUp for Energy Analysis

(4 LUs HSW/SD)
These free, step-by-step online tutorials on 3D modeling and energy analysis tools—Open Studio, SketchUp, and EnergyPlus—qualify for 4 LUs (HSW/SD) following completion of the four-hour program and a quiz. This is a quick, easy way to fulfill your annual AIA sustainable design (SD) continuing education requirement at no cost.

AIA CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

Documents on Demand Now Available!
AIA Documents on Demand is a web-based service that allows you to purchase and download individual forms and agreements in PDF format which you can fill out electronically. The documents available include 16 of the most popular selections from the AIA Contract Document library. This service is ideal for MAC users or those that only use a few contracts per year. Additionally, it is a cost effective solution for those of you that only create a few contracts per year, but still want the convenience and the clean, professional appearance of electronically generated documents. Learn more about AIA Documents on Demand.

AIA KNOWLEDGE COMMUNITIES

Make the most of your AIA membership!
Explore your interests, pursue your passions, and interact with your peers by joining one (or several) of the AIA Knowledge Communities. Knowledge Communities are a FREE benefit for AIA members that can provide you with the specialized information, contacts, and resources you need, when you need it most. Learn more at www.aia.org/knowledge.

Visit your online AIA profile to join a Knowledge Community today!