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Page 18 — Health Care Properties Quarterly — January 2019 www.crej.com 7340 E Caley Ave, Suite 210W, Centennial, CO 80111 fire alarm system. Our client already had the necessary infrastructure in its fire alarm system at every damper and it would have been sim- ple to add one more component to test whether the damper was open or closed. Unfortunately, we were brought into the project too late, and now our client has to physically check every damper once a year to see if it’s open or closed. • Conformance with state and local fire laws . An electrical contractor experienced in health care facilities can add a great deal of value in life safety coordination based on local and state requirements. Colorado fire codes and local area codes and amendments are very complex and the expertise to successfully navi- gate them comes only through rela- tionships and years of experience gained through active involvement and support of various regulatory agencies. Fire and other life safety codes are always changing and a good electri- cal contractor can help you avoid problems by being aware of these changes and updates. Considerable cost and time can be saved when you have subject matter experts with you throughout the lifecycle of a project. • Finding the right partner . Having solid working partnerships is vital for build- ing owners and operators when facing the growing challenges to expand and maintain health care facilities. For both your new and existing facilities, consider partnering with an electrical contractor, who is experi- enced in health care, and who can also offer preconstruction services and fire alarm expertise to help ensure your success. s McGovern Continued from Page 14 The individual living spaces remove the traditional studio unit apartment and replace it with an equivalent size “tiny-home” sized unit that includes a living room, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom, all fully accessible.This unit recreates the normal household spaces in a compact tiny-home size module that reinforces the expected dignity of a home. The key idea here is that these neigh- borhoods encompass a single level of a building, and that more neighborhoods can be added – stacked, if you will – to make the most efficient use of a single land parcel.The small-house model can be stacked or organized in any fashion required, from a single floor to a high- rise building. Improving Outdoor Amenities with any Footprint The traditional small-house model typically has been a single-story building serving skilled nursing patients. The stackable model offers developers the option to repeat the design and amenities again and again going up multiple stories, and adjusting the design and layout for independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing as needed. It also allows for amenity- only floors that have indoor and outdoor spaces. These amenity floors can be inserted multiple times in the stacking of the building. The develop- er, operator and designers can work together to mix and match the differ- ent components based on the needs of the immediate market. What’s more, the stackable small- house model ensures that every neighborhood has access to an out- door amenity. With this model, archi- tects can group different neighbor- hoods or levels of care in a thoughtful way while also interspersing access to greenery, fresh air and even gardening opportunities throughout the build- ing. These big returns are possible even with a small footprint, ideal for more compact sites or urban infill locations. This concept also plays to research that shows more and more older adults wanting to stay in urban areas near their families and contemporary retail and recreational amenities. An advantage to the stackable small-house model is that it can be inserted into urban or other already developed areas that have smaller pieces of property open for develop- ment. With a footprint of approxi- mately 9,000 square feet, the stack- able small house can be used for urban infill and designed as a high- rise, or can be established on an exist- ing campus at a lower scale. Based on its modules, it offers complete acuity level flexibility with a small footprint. This creative concept of the stack- able small-house model provides amenity-rich, patient-centered care for residents or patients at any acu- ity level. With a focus on outdoor access and community living, this idea of efficient, stackable living spaces offers a new way to look at designing for older adults in an urban environment. s Mohlenkamp Continued from Page 16 ment and services are increasingly important to today’s senior consumer. Technology will continue to gain impor- tance among the senior population. • Health services and care. Telemedi- cine and digital care services have become the baseline. Existing facilities must have their eye on future health care technologies and best practices for user experience. • Indoor-outdoor connections. Large windows for natural light, access to the outdoors and nature, meaningful, pro- grammable outdoor activity spaces and outdoor fitness and walking trails are ranked high on today’s senior wishlist. Assure that your program includes the development of outdoor site amenities. The Real Payback There are nearly 65 million baby boomers, many just starting to consider senior living options.Those who chose to move into a senior living community will have many options to choose from, new, old and in between. Many will compete on cost, all will provide levels of care, however, the ones who provide higher levels of social engagement, mul- tidimensional wellness programs and progressive consumer-driven indoor and outdoor dining and entertainment choices will be strategically positioned for success through the boomer years and the following generations. Repo- sitioning best practices are more than market studies, goals and objectives, they’re strategic implementations for market relevancy. s Sims Continued from Page 15