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The Difference is in the Details…

A session titled “Looking At Your Center With New Eyes: The Difference Is In The Details,” presented at the 2001 PASC Conference, focused on cost-effective ways to enhance the image and functionality of your facility. Presenters Doug Gallow, Vice President, and Ellen Gallow, Senior Services Market Coordinator, are with Colimore Gallow Architects, a Baltimore, MD based architectural firm with an extensive resume of successful senior center, adult day care and multi-generation community center projects.

The ideas listed below represent a sampling of the countless small enhancements that can make a big difference in the way your facility supports your mission. It is always advisable to investigate local code and zoning restrictions before making changes to a building. Feel free to contact Doug Gallow at (410) 752-3720, or e-mail srinfo@colimoregallow.com, for further information about senior center design and renovations. Colimore Gallow’s quarterly newsletter “Senior-Centered Design” is available free of charge, upon request.

Small Changes …Big Difference

(Relatively) inexpensive changes and actions that can improve the image, comfort, and functionality of your facility

 Location

  • Advocate for a new bus stop at your front door

  • Add lighting around the outside of the building, especially at parking areas, walkways and entrances

  • Use rooms with views of parking, walkways and entry as office space, or add window(s) for enhanced surveillance

  • Plan outdoor activities on your grounds or in your neighborhood

  • Create usable patio space or add outdoor benches

 Parking

  • Create additional handicapped parking spaces as appropriate to serve demand

  • Convert unused portions of site to expand or move parking

  • Add lighting for uniform illumination of parking lot and surrounding area (eliminate dark spots)

  • Re-surface as necessary to eliminate hazards (holes, heaves, slippery surface, etc.)

  • Paint lines to assure efficient use of space

  • Provide sign indicating path to entrance(s)

 Building Exterior

  • Change paint or trim color, add awnings, enhance landscaping, etc. to change and soften appearance of building

  • Plan a special day to clean up/spruce up your grounds and exterior, soliciting help from members, civic groups, schools, donations from local businesses, etc.  Invite press, and make future goals known

  • Plant bulbs and other low maintenance perennials

 Signs

  • Place main sign close to main entrance, or include arrow indicating direction to entrance

  • Replace signs that have decorative or ‘fine’ print that may be difficult to read from the street

  • Install signs along streets in outer neighborhood as needed to direct people to your location

  • Provide signs as needed to parking areas, and from parking areas to main entrance

Entrance/Lobby

  • Install power or power-assisted doors

  • Install doorbell at entrance for handicapped or others to indicate need for assistance entering the building

  • Provide handrails along sloped walks and both sides of stairs

  • Install an awning from entrance to drop-off, for protection from the elements

  • Replace solid door with glass-paneled model to introduce natural light in entry

  • Install glass ‘sidelights’ or transom at entrance

  • Paint entry in white or light reflective color to enhance lighting

  • Purchase an extra walk-off mat for use while other is being cleaned

  • Add a reception desk to lobby area, if none

  • If no reception desk, provide signs to direct guests to office and various points of destination

  • Replace reception desk with handicapped accessible model

  • Add comfortable benches or chairs for those who arrive early, or must wait for transportation after an activity

  • Add baseboard or unit heater to warm a cold entry or lobby

Interior (program)
Use of Space

  • Rearrange dedicated spaces for staff and client comfort and convenience

  • Add a wall, half-wall, portable divider or folding partition to divide space

  • Install decorative handrails in corridors and large open rooms

 Lighting and Windows

  • Modify or add lighting to eliminate glare and shadows

  • Replace heavy drapes with directional blinds to make use of natural light

  • Add window(s) for natural light and to enhance ambiance

  • Provide user-friendly operable windows where desired

  • Make use of incandescent lighting in appropriate locations (lounges, offices)

  • Provide focused task lighting where called for (kitchen, craft rooms)

 Personal Comfort

  • Enhance heating in cold spots by tapping into existing system or adding space units

  • Install acoustical ceiling for noise reduction

  • Hang decorative flags or banners to absorb sound

  • Separate noisy and quiet programs to different parts of the building, or re-schedule

  • Replace hard flooring with suitable carpet where desired for noise control

 Flooring

  • Replace hard-surface flooring that is slick or overly reflective (creates glare) with material with appropriate coefficient of friction (“slip factor”) and low-sheen surface

  • Redesign flooring to enhance client’s spatial orientation and sense of direction

  • Replace worn or inappropriate carpet with a dense pile, short loop, solution dyed, commercial grade carpet with antimicrobial protection

  • Replace flooring materials that have disorienting patterns

  • Provide color contrast in flooring at steps and transitions

 Use of Color

  • Repaint dirty, dingy, or inappropriately colored walls or trim

  • If walls, trim and flooring are of similar color, paint base trim, door frames, handrails, etc. for contrast definition

  • Replace or reupholster furniture that blends into the background or carpet with contrasting colors

  • Correct situations where color choices create problems with spatial orientation or depth perception (dark flooring on shadowy steps, reflective surfaces that cause glare, etc.)

 Decoration, Furnishings and Hardware

  • Neutralize strong elements in interior design or decoration that current participants can’t relate to by removal, covering, repainting, etc.

  • Replace sofas with arm chairs or love seats

  • Replace or fortify seat cushions for firm support

  • Hang art provided by local artist’s guild or members

  • Display crafts and artwork created by members in secure location

  • Add plants (hardy varieties) to enhance atmosphere

  • Replace armless chairs with appropriate armed style

  • Replace hazardous pedestal-style or collapsible tables with stable models

  • Replace door knobs with pinch-free levels

  • Replace standard light switches with larger rocker-style switches

 Amenities

  • Replace uncomfortably deep kitchen sink with a shallower model

  • Replace standard faucets with single lever faucets

  • Lower cabinets, or adjust shelving for access

  • Convert unused or under-utilized space to storage as needed

 Interior (office)

  • Add window in door (if allowed by code) or wall, for visual access to areas of concern

  • Add window(s) with view of parking lot, walkways, bus drop off, etc.

  • Purchase systems furniture panels to divide office space

  • Purchase desk lamps as alternative to harsh fluorescent lighting

  • Install space heaters and room air conditioners as needed

  • Encourage hanging of artwork to enhance atmosphere

 Rest Rooms

  • Add (or expand existing) rest room(s) near heavily used program space(s) not adequately serviced

  • Add handicapped accessible facilities (beyond ADA guidelines) according to demand

  • Install extra grab bars for client assistance and comfort (can be decorative)

  • Replace standard faucets with single level faucets

 

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