The Geddis Partnership Architects, A Professional Corporation began designing the project in 2004 with an in-house team of five architects and interior designers determined to create a unique, highly attractive long-term living facility for the Bronx.
After three years of hard work and vision, the $37,500,000 project was deemed a huge success.
“We were especially gratified that, in a national venue, where the familiar one story long-term care settings on open ground is more common, that they could appreciate an urban, mid-rise environment in an intense, mixed-use neighborhood,” company president Barbara L. Geddis said.
Nestled next to I-95, Geddis said it was the incredible asset of the site’s open space that enhanced the 215-bed, 174,082 square foot facility’s appeal.
“We think its exterior silhouette from the highway doesn’t look like a nursing home,” she said, adding, “It’s active façade design in pre-cast and brick, in chamfered window details at the resident rooms and storefront glass on the community rooms give it an energetic, lively and appealing character.”
While the building certainly serves as a beautiful community backdrop, Geddis added the indoor amenities are equally impressive.
“Our client had the highest aspirations for privacy for each resident,” she explained. “Our extraordinary resident rooms are a result of that collaboration.”
Focusing on the design of a New York City scene, the center’s modern atmosphere includes a bakery, bamboo flooring and varied artwork of city scenes, bringing the outdoors in.
“Clearly, inside, the residents themselves benefit from the beautiful interior,” the facility’s chief executive officer Kenneth Gelb said. “It’s just a beautiful architectural piece.”
Throughout the process, Geddis also explained that the firm followed all national and state guidelines and regulations for long-term care design with their personal extensions to optimize the building’s use and originality.
“Our own guidelines, which exceed those standards, included adding 100% accessibility wherever possible, adding any measure of privacy and dignity to the individual living arrangements and adding different destinations for community within the center for variety in daily life,” Geddis explained.
Founding The Geddis Partnership Architects, A Professional Corporation in 1991 in Connecticut after running a practice in New York City for 17 years, Geddis said she’s proud to continue working in the metropolitan New York area.
