Pub. 3 2020 Directory

36 NORTHERN NEVADA ARCHITECTECTURE .20 | 2020 | www.aiann.org MERIT THE NORTHERN NEVADA STATE VETERANS HOME - INTERIORS A s baby boomers grow older, they increasingly need places to do so with grace. Sometimes, this is a design solution that converts a home so the elderly can “age-in-place,” but it often means relocating to an assisted-living facility or nursing home. This evolving building type is open to many design innovations, from technologies and ways of making spaces feel like home to finding new ways for residents to create communities in their new surroundings. The Northern Nevada Veterans Home, a federal and state-funded project, is a 116,000 square foot, 96-bed retirement home in Reno for Nevada’s men and women who served our country domestically and abroad. Both the state and federal officials were looking for an exceptional facility to serve these veterans. With that, the design team searched for a solution that would provide a positive environment that would inspire healthy living and active social interaction. This facility is designed not merely to house retiring soldiers in a “tired” season of life. Instead, it is designed as a diverse community of spaces where veterans can come together with common histories, current and new social circles, and supportive family networks in a visually familiar, inspiring, light-filled, and active environment. The State of Nevada Veterans Administration is re-thinking the way retirement homes are designed and operated in Nevada. This project incorporates the “Greenhouse” design concept of providing a more home-like atmosphere where Veterans can share their lives in a sustainable, energy-efficient, residential environment. The challenge was to design within a very tight budget and provide a well- deserved safe, warm, and comfortable environment that is modern yet familiar. With that, the design team elected to utilize a simple repetition of wings and courtyards along a common connecting “Main Street” and apply a variety of familiar finishes to create comfort and visual interest to the “Community” environment. A home away from home concept is implemented for visiting family and friends and a meaningful experience with comrades. The design solution composes three independent “care units” as wings that are connected to a Town Square space, where a common dining hall, coffee shop, sports bar, gift shop, physical therapy and other services are organized around a community living room, which includes comfortable seating for reminiscing and a central fireplace to keep warm and feel at home. Between these “Wings” are safe, secure courtyards for outdoor enjoyment. Main Street is a gently curved connecting walkway to the three care-unit “Wings” — one for ambulatory care, one for managed care and ARCHITECT: VanWoert Bigotti Architects CONTRACTOR: Q&D Construction COMPLETION DATE: 2019 LOCATION: Reno, Nevada