Blitch Knevel designed this 138-bed Skilled Nursing Facility that was developed on a collaborative basis with 16 Catholic religious orders to serve the needs of their elderly members. The ownership of the Facility and the "cluster-nursing" model being used for care make Our Lady of Wisdom one of the first of its kind in the United States. The project was awarded a Citation for Design Excellence by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA). The health care center consists of three 46-bed neighborhoods for living, divided into 18 clusters of 7-9 beds each. Each neighborhood is served by nurse aides' stations and separate dining and lounge area within the clusters. A central courtyard is the focus of a clinic for program and habilitation services, an administrative area, a mental health wing, a multipurpose room, enclosed greenhouse and a 150-seat chapel.

Suburban site of 8.1 acres

Area: 115,000 sf

Completion in 2000

 

 

The design manages to provide decentralized care to residents thanks to the cluster design provided. Smaller communal living rooms in each cluster create a sense of privacy and home. Also, the corridors are kept fairly short and distances are reduced between services.