Common interests: innovation is the key for these winning renovation projects. (Best Practice Winners).

Mather Pavilion at Wagner

Spa-Like Bathing Evanston, Ill.

Architect: Mithun. Seattle, Wash.

Designer: Mithun, Seattle, Wash.

Working with the provider for Mather Pavilion of Evanston, Ill., architect Mithun won high marks for achieving an impressive level of "residential character" for a common area with a core area renovation cost of just $55 per square foot. Jurors found the project design to be a great example of how to transform a 1970s skilled nursing facility into high quality space for a challenging resident population.

Mithun's renovation design totally redressed the physical environment to compliment the owners' new care mission. The owners designated the unit for Alzheimer's care and operationally converted the unit to an activity-based "neighborhood model" in 1996.

This "spa-like" bathing suite, with its simple, clean, timeless design, illustrates their approach. The design includes keeping convenient storage within the staff's reach without replacing the tub.

Mary's Wood Marylhurst

Memory Impaired

Room Identifier

Marylhurst, Lake Oswego, Ore.

Architect: Mithun, Seattle, Wash.

Designer: Stanzione Associates,

Sarasota, Fla.

One of the many details within this sensitively designed restoration by Mithun was this full alcove "room identifier" for residents with Alzheimer's disease.

Jurors were impressed with the overall quality of the campus design, which complimented the style of the original Catholic Sister's provincial house. They were especially impressed with the attention to the room identifier, which was also designed to integrate with the original wood stile and rail doors and casings.

These "memory stations" help residents locate their room as part of a system of multiple cuing. They also secure their personal items and offer a glimpse at their life-long interests. This can help build relationships between staff and residents.

Sun Health Grandview Care Center

Multi-Generational Care Model

Sun City, Ariz.

Architect: TRK Architecture & Facilities Management Inc., Phoenix, Ariz.

Designer: Whitney Design & Associates Inc., Sarasota, Fla.

While responding to community demand for residential-style assisted living within a skilled nursing environment, TRK Architecture & Facilities Management Inc. created an outstanding example of multi-generational design. To support the provider's Eden Alternative' care model, facility expansion plans added a building with one and two bedroom suites, and skilled nursing beds to compliment an existing structure and create an enclosed courtyard.

Program additions included an outpatient therapy clinic, community education room and a new 160-registrant, early child development center with outdoor play spaces accessible to and visible from the resident common areas, suites and balconies.

Our jurors applauded the project team's ability to not only bring the very young and old together, but to really stretch the age range of individuals at the center with its variety of age-appropriate care programs.