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Copenhagen studio NORD Architects has designed its first project in the United States, an Alzheimer’s care center in Pennsylvania that aims to create a welcoming environment for elderly patients to enhance understanding and care of the disease.
The project, called the Memory Care Center, will include a 150,700-square-foot (14,000-square-meter) assisted care campus that will house 140 residential units as well as community space for residents and the public.
Located in Lancaster, the project will be NORD Architects’ first project in the Americas. The studio will draw on experience in designing care centers abroad, such as the Alzheimer’s Village project in France.
“The design of the new center is based on the principles of flexibility, change and inclusivity,” said NORD Architects.
“It is designed to be a wonderful home for residents, an inspiring workplace for carers and a welcoming center for the surrounding community.”
Renderings show multiple L-shaped gable-roofed buildings arranged in clusters with rich landscaping throughout the campus.
Pergolas, greenhouses and other ancillary seating are also scattered throughout the grounds.
A central building will receive visitors and the public, consisting of three volumes clad in a large, flat wooden pavilion with a series of skylights between them.
Hall seating and public facilities such as a mini market are located on either side of the space.
In addition, according to the team, a “Brain Café” on campus will host volunteers, as well as neuroscientists, neuropsychologists and other researchers on campus to further study the disease.
The structure will feature a timber frame, as well as a mixture of white wood and clay stucco with soft red cladding.
These materials were chosen to create a “homey feel” while also aiding in wayfinding.
“Wayfinding is an important component of memory care design,” said the studio. “Simple ways like changing facade colors to give each section a unique identity can help residents remember where to go.”
Other accommodations for residents will include placing a personal item in front of the door for identification, as well as interior layouts to increase independence.
Several units also have wooden balconies painted on them.
The plan anticipates a rapid increase in the number of elderly patients worldwide.
The studio said the global population over 65 is expected to double from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion in 2050, and dementia cases are expected to increase from 70 million in 2025 to about 150 million in 2050.
“Future buildings and designs for people with dementia must be adaptable to accommodate residents’ varied and changing abilities and should support these wherever possible to reduce the rate of progression of the condition,” said the studio.
The memory care center is expected to break ground in the spring of 2024, with completion expected in 2025.
Other recent projects related to dementia care include a loop facility in Iceland by Loop Architects, and a book with tips and tricks on how to “repurpose” IKEA furniture to better serve people with the disease.
Image courtesy NORD Architects
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