Redefining Excellence with the Redevelopment Department
"To invest in our communities, to provide exceptional accommodations, amenities and services for our residents, families and employees, and to enhance the long-term value of our company." This is the mission statement for Atria’s Redevelopment department, which is working to enhance not only residents’ lives, but also the long-term value of the company.
Whether it’s adding a water feature to a community’s courtyard or rebuilding a community from the ground up, Atria’s Redevelopment group works hard to ensure that their efforts do not go unnoticed. But when you see some of the things they’ve done, their talent and impact is impossible to ignore. In this issue, we want to introduce you to the Redevelopment group and share some of their ideas and successes so far.
The Redevelopment team is led by Senior Vice President of Redevelopment Mark Alexander. Mark has been with Atria for almost 12 years, first serving as Senior VP of Eastern Operations for several years and then moving on to lead the financial group as VP of Finance for six years. Mark works closely with Floyd Anderson, VP of Construction and Development, along with groups of regionally-based Development Planning Directors and Construction Project Managers, to oversee each community’s transformation, from preliminary design to ribbon-cutting party.
Currently, there are seven large-scale projects in the works nationwide, with many more on the horizon. Most of these projects involve either general renovations or major additions, but a few communities are being completely rebuilt from the ground up. As you can imagine, these projects are no small task.
Common upgrades include improving common areas like the lobby, living room and dining rooms; new technology, including wireless Internet and Saflok® electronic key entry systems for residents’ apartments; fitness centers specially designed for seniors; full-service beauty salons and spas; expanded dining options, including expanded Anytime Cafés and alfresco dining options; and upgraded apartments with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Atria Briarcliff Manor in Briarcliff Manor, New York, completed a general renovation late last year. The project included updating the dining room and common rooms, as well as the addition of a theater with movie-style seating and a bistro. “I got a warm feeling when I walked through the door,” says ED Wendy Palmiero of the completed renovation.
Atria Willow Park in Willow Park, Texas, enjoyed a similar facelift. Their renovation, a full year in the making, featured a redesigned atrium, all-new Anytime Café, two new media rooms with projection screens and the addition of an outdoor barbecue kitchen and sculpture garden with work by students from the University of Texas. According to Maintenance Technician Jonathan Todd, “The recent renovations have greatly enhanced the quality of life for the residents and staff.”
Sometimes, the renovations are more extensive. Atria Las Posas in Camarillo, California, recently opened a brand-new Life Guidance® neighborhood, featuring built-in memory boxes along the walls and a full demonstration kitchen for events and family meals. Southern California Construction Project Manager Tom Ridge says, “The completed space was impressive, but when residents moved in, it became a home. The memory boxes serve as an important reminder that the seniors we serve have created a great country for us to live in.”
The community-wide renovation also included updating the dining room and beauty salon, as well as the addition of a movie theater, fitness center, club room, lobby café and an outdoor dining area and barbecue.
The Redevelopment team’s efforts to bring value and quality to the buildings they renovate extend to the surrounding community as well. At many of the redeveloped communities, the team is seeking Leadership in Energy-Efficient Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certification requires buildings to meet the USGBC’s criteria in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. In this way, Atria is using current and future Redevelopment projects as a springboard in our efforts to “go green.”
As we work toward creating a better life for our residents, the Redevelopment department is here to help. When all the dust is cleared, there will be great new things to talk about. Mark Alexander says, “Together, we can continue to make Atria a company of which we are all proud to be a part.”