TECH THAT WORKS TOGETHER
NEW TECHNOLOGIES BRING NEW CHALLENGES
IN ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Family “Skype rooms” could be another
attraction, with large screens so residents can see the whole family—or the new baby, bigger than life. Private rooms to ensure telemedicine is
confidential and secure are already being put into play in some communities. Traditional furnishings may get replaced
by those that have support for different screens and different uses, and lighting may need to change as well. Even outdoor spaces will be affected. Changing right now are: more, and more
convenient, electrical outlets; adjusting placement of screens and smart speakers at the right height and angle for individual use. But an environment that’s good for
Flexibility is key for spaces to accommodate changing technology—best are spaces that can change configurations eas- ily. DAHLIN converted Atria Walnut Creek, a 1970s-era building, to have more social gathering and common living spaces as well as outdoor spaces.
Imagine a future where everyone’s talking at once—and all their devices are talking, too. What kinds of design changes would we need to make so communities could be livable?
In addition to the changes in the way we
live our lives, technology is altering to the places we live, as well. In fact, Perkins East- man architecture’s watershed 2019 Clean Slate Project questioned whether the tradi- tional form of senior living communities— apartment-style residences, social areas, and wellness and fitness areas—would be radi- cally reshaped by changing technologies. But for now, it’s enough to just stay flex-
ible, says John Thatch, senior principal and director of design at DAHLIN, which has designed senior living communities for sev- eral major providers.
“The next five years are going to be pretty amazing,” he says. “And I think the biggest thing we can do in our design is to be flex- ible about how rooms can work.” That means good open spaces that can adjust to changes that might be needed. Most research points to people living
longer and retiring later, for instance. A community might need greater capacity for business-level connectivity, and perhaps office spaces, small meeting rooms, and “phone booths,” or small soundproof rooms for conferencing and videoconferencing.
screens is not one that’s good for people— especially for older people, whose health and circadian rhythms have been shown to benefit from natural light. “In the commu- nities we’re creating, we want to bring a lot of natural light in,” Thatch says. As more technology becomes embedded in things or shrinks into wearables that are smaller, portable, and closer to the body, such concerns could fade away. “Maybe the big thing is figuring out how
we can make things easier for staff,” Thatch says. For instance, if technology can free them from filling out forms or desk work, staff may be able to spend more time di- rectly with residents. And during breaks, they could find it easier to communicate with family or set up schedules. “That’s the thing I’m really excited
about,” Thatch says. “How it lets us make more connections.”
A community might need greater capacity for business- level connectivity, and perhaps office spaces.
14 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020
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