JUST A FEW MINUTES AWAY FROM PATRIOT PLACE AND GILLETTE STADIUM, WALNUT KNOLL OFFERS SENIORS 55+ A THRIVING COMMUNITY TUCKED AMONG THE FORESTS OF CENTRAL MASS. THE THREE BUILDINGS ARE CONNECTED BY A CENTRAL COURTYARD THAT BOASTS A VARIETY OF ACTIVITY BRIDGING ALL AGES, INCLUDING PICKLEBALL, A PUTTING GREEN, A FIRE PIT AND GRILLING PATIO, DOG PARK, AND COMMUNITY GARDEN.

INTERIOR AMENITIES, WHICH WERE ONE OF MY FOCUSES ON THE PROJECT, INCLUDE A FITNESS CENTER, MEETING ROOMS, AND A CENTRAL COMMUNITY ROOM . CLAD IN RED CEDAR SHINGLES AND ADORNED WITH TALL GLASS DORMER WINDOWS, the community room IS MEANT TO serve as a communal den for all residents. A PLACE WHERE FOLKS CAN GATHER TO SHARE A MEAL, WATCH THE GAME, OR PLAY A GAME OF POOL - THE COMMUNITY ROOM IS A VITAL PROGRAM TO THE SOCIAL SCENE.

ASIDE FROM THE AMENITIES, MY DESIGN EXPERTISE WAS BROUGHT IN TO CREATE A VARIETY OF UNIT TYPES THAT ADDRESSED THREE TYPES OF ACCESSIBILITY. THE CHALLENGE WAS IN THE BALANCING ACT OF EQUITABLE SPATIAL QUALITY AND EFFICIENT REPEATABILITY OF UNITS ACROSS THE FLOOR PLANS. as a senior housing project, there was great IMPORTANCE PLACED ON A RESIDENTS’ ABILITY TO AGE IN PLACE - WALNUT KNOLL IS MEANT TO BE A FOREVER HOME, CAPABLE OF CHANGING WITH RESIDENT’S PHYSICAL CAPABILITIES. ABOVE ALL ELSE, THE PROJECT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE THE COMMUNITY WITH A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND GRACE IN AGING.