Hebrew SeniorLife Set To Begin Construction Of Innovative Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Boston, MA - Construction on one of the largest continuing care retirement communities will officially get underway on Tuesday, June 19th, with the formal groundbreaking for NewBridge on the Charles on the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Campus in Dedham, MA. A 5 PM ceremony featuring Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will highlight festivities for the new Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) community. A provider of senior housing and health care in Boston for over 103 years, Hebrew SeniorLife is recognized internationally for its leadership in housing, healthcare, research, and teaching.
When completed in the fall of 2009, the 162-acre campus will offer a broad spectrum of housing choices for senior citizens, including supportive housing, assisted living in the Jack Satter Residence, and assisted living for seniors with dementia. In addition, NewBridge on the Charles will provide a full continuum of health care for seniors, including outpatient clinics, home care, short-term medical acute and long-term care. Numerous programs and amenities will enable residents to live active, healthy and fulfilling lifestyles at the Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Residential and Community Centers.
"NewBridge on the Charles is the culmination of more than 100 years of HSL's commitment to meeting the specific needs of its residents," said Hebrew SeniorLife President and CEO Len Fishman. "Our goal is to create an optimal living environment that provides an active senior lifestyle with supportive services on-site, including a range of wellness and healthcare services. This community will address the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of aging. As baby boomers age, the demand for senior housing is going to increase dramatically, and NewBridge on the Charles will lead the way in meeting the growing number of seniors' needs."
Bringing Generations Together
One of the many special aspects of the Adelson Campus will be its multigenerational aspect. The Rashi School, a K-8 Jewish day school now located in Newton, is building its permanent home on the campus. A mix of formal programming and informal interaction will provide opportunities for children and seniors to learn, mentor, discover and celebrate together.
"We are excited about so many aspects of this project, but none more so than the multi-generational environment we're creating," said Fishman. "Studies have shown that interaction between seniors and youth provide numerous benefits for both groups."
Sustainable Design
As part of Hebrew SeniorLife's commitment to the environment, NewBridge on the Charles will use sustainable design principles that reduce the use of non-renewable resources, minimize environmental impact, and enable people to easily connect with the natural environment.
Rezoning of the property into a senior campus district allowed buildings to be sited closer together, reduced road widths, and minimized site disturbance. Approximately 100 acres of the site will be preserved as open space and the landscaping will feature drought-resistant and low-water-use plantings. In addition, the project will feature a rainwater collection system to provide irrigation for the extensive landscaping. A geothermal energy system, featuring 400 wells to cool and heat the buildings will add to the project's innovative design, lessen dependence on fossil fuels, and be financially advantageous.
Porous pavements, through which water seeps back into the soil, will be used; these surfaces are also more user-friendly for pedestrians and for those in wheelchairs. Many of the buildings on the campus will feature green roofs on which trees, shrubs and grasses can be planted. Also, much of the parking is underground to avoid the need for vast areas of surface paving.
Project Specifics
NewBridge on the Charles will employ principles of so-called Smart Growth to create a village-like community featuring:
- 256 units of senior supportive housing: Cottages, villas and apartments.
- 91 assisted living, including 41 for those with dementia
- 48 short-term recuperative beds
- 220 long-term care beds
The Carl J. and Ruth Shapiro Community Center, named to honor a generous gift made by the Shapiros, will be the main center of activity for residents and visitors. The Center will include clubrooms, a theater, a common living room, a library, a computer room, an art studio and workshops, three dining rooms for residents, two restaurants, a business center, a post office, a banking office, a convenience store, and a fitness and aquatic center, both with rehabilitation capabilities.
The campus, which abuts the Charles River and features a vernal pond, will include gardens, sitting areas, and extensive walks and trails offer places for exercise and contemplation. The site has been named the Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson Campus in honor of their generous gift to the project.
Services for residents will include weekly housekeeping, monthly dining credit, utilities, scheduled transportation services, fitness and wellness activities, shuttle service, concierge service, and cultural, social, recreational and educational programming.
Project Team
The project's architect is Perkins Eastman, a leading international architecture, urban design and interior design firm of Pittsburgh, PA. Boston landscape architects Geller DeVellis, Inc. is overseeing the project, from conceptual work through construction and implementation, including the hardscape and landscape. Legatt-McCall, a leading Boston project management firm, is serving as the project developer.
SOURCE: Hebrew SeniorLife