WELLNESS: HEALTH & FITNESS NOMINEE

FellowshipLife | Fellowship Village

The design team has partnered with a renowned Life Plan Community for the past decade, working on extensive redevelopment initiatives across the campus. Major projects completed during this time include significant additions and upgrades to the Health Center, the addition of a 256-seat theater, and extensive renovations to the commons and administrative facilities. Fueled by the vision to ‘transform the aging experience to empower one’s life’, these projects have helped in strengthening the viability and marketability of the campus. Acting on a core value to integrate a holistic wellness philosophy into all programs, the latest building addition—a +14,000 square foot Fitness/Spa/Salon facility, complete with Locker Rooms and an Outdoor Recreation Area—demonstrates the community’s proactive approach to meeting resident needs, while inviting the wider community to enjoy and utilize the campus’s amenities.

City/State:
Basking Ridge, NJ
Date of Completion:
01/2024
Project Size (Sq. ft)
17,563 SF
Owner:
FellowshipLIFE
Operator:
FellowshipLIFE
Architect:
KDA Architects
Interior Design Firm:
KDA Architects & MPI
Builder/Contractor:
Sweetwater Construction Corp

The innovative wellness programs envisioned by the owner were well suited for a contemporary architectural aesthetic.  With little open space left for the expansion, the solution was to ‘wedge’ the addition between an existing independent living building and an outdoor dining and putting green amenity space.  Using transparent materials to help visually reduce its volume, the glazed structure, capped by a subtle inverted butterfly-shaped roof, does not seek to compete with the existing adjacent commons and apartment buildings.

The simple form is anchored by a masonry brick base, providing a solid foundation for the striking, light-filled upper Fitness level. The translucent envelope surrounding the Fitness spaces features a dark-framed curtain wall with expansive specialty glass panels that provides the latest in glazing technology. The roof’s generous overhangs, clad in warm wood, offer substantial shading in bright sunlight. Together with the motorized shade systems, these overhangs help maintain a comfortable interior environment while providing inspiring views out to the woodlands beyond.

The community has retained a fitness team that is committed to fostering a supportive atmosphere, offering a diverse array of classes to assist users in enhancing their well-being and reaching fitness objectives. The program is equipped with advanced exercise equipment that allows both residents and outside members to create a workout plan that will fit their unique goals.

Taking advantage of the sloping grade at the existing buildings, the design team was able to align the upper Fitness level with the Commons’ main floor and position the quieter Spa/Salon spaces below, where the building extends towards the open land views to the west. This lower level is designed to receive ample natural light, enhancing the salon environment which provides hair styling, shampoo, wig services, mani-pedi, barber facilities, and a Special Events room for private resident groups and family members.

Relocating the fitness program to its new home at the building addition enabled the renovation and expansion of the community’s existing locker rooms.  The design team incorporated high-end finishes, fixtures and details, such as private shower rooms and luxurious sauna, that rival those of exclusive standalone fitness clubs.

The successful design enhances resident life, aligning with the community’s philosophy to ‘Enrich/Transform/Empower’ the lives and well-being of their residents.