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Sustaining Life after 65

The 160,000-square-foot (15,000-square-meter) building is configured in nine wings branching from a curved spine. Residents live in "neighborhoods" of rooms, clustered together with shared dining and gathering areas. This design idea is common in new nursing and assisted-care homes but is relatively rare in existing Veterans Administration (VA) facilities.

Y-shaped bedrooms are divided by a wall rather than a curtain, effectively breaking double rooms into singles. This layout is expected to provide residents with dignity, privacy, and greater control over their environment.

In a departure from conventional modern buildings of this type, the Retsil facility depends exclusively on natural ventilation for cooling. This is key to saving both energy and operational expense.

Aided by a mild microclimate and sea breezes from the nearby Sinclair Inlet, the carefully engineered natural cooling system includes 240 operable windows. Giving residents some control over their environment was a key design goal, so the double-hung windows were custom made to be lighter-than-normal in weight for ease of use by elderly residents.

Minimal mechanical devices (merely to compensate for closed windows) use both prefilters and final filters to provide optimal indoor air quality and occupant comfort. Besides reducing energy costs, this system eliminates the noise and maintenance of conventional air-conditioning and greatly increases the number of fresh air exchanges.

Combined with floors constructed of precast concrete planks, high ceilings, operable clerestory windows, and controlled solar heat gain, the system creates a pressure and thermal gradient by way of convection to enable natural cooling.

The resulting system became the first sustainable design to receive approval by the state's Department of Health's code for HVAC systems. The NBBJ design team worked diligently for 10 months to demonstrate the adequacy of the cooling system and achieve this approval.

The high windows offer additional advantages of flooding the building with daylight and reinforcing patient communion with the exterior environment. Every resident's room has a window with views of either the inlet or landscaped courtyards.

Dignity through Details

This communion extends to the outdoor spaces, where residents, even those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, can wander safely. A variety of lawns and gardens offer opportunities for outdoor relaxation and recreation. The same building wing configuration that facilitates natural ventilation also creates a sequence of relatively small, sheltered gardens in between.

Considerable attention went to the landscaping of these areas. Water-efficient planting materials were selected to reduce water demand. Extensive stone and landscape detention ponds serve to filter rainwater and control runoff. Full cut-off exterior light fixtures from Louis Poulson reduce light pollution.

Other sustainable strategies include an Energy Star-compliant roof with a reflective paint color, heating by a closed-loop hydronic system, and the adoption of an indoor air quality plan.

Sustainably produced materials were selected to craft a warm, homelike atmosphere. These include bamboo flooring in the entry, granite countertops in the dining area, a reception desk made of sunflower seeds, and certified-renewable maple handrails throughout.

"Earth-friendly" Interface carpet in the corridors and paints and sealants that are low volatile organic compound (VOC) were selected for lower off-gassing and to diminish the odors often associated with large commercial buildings. In addition, windows are of recyclable aluminum, the ceiling tiles are recycled, and the window shades contain no polyvinylchloride (PVC).

M.A. Mortenson Company, the general contractor on this project, implemented sustainable waste management during construction. These and other building practices played an integral role in achieving the LEED Gold certification.

There is also anecdotal evidence that the building is succeeding in enlivening its occupants. Since the facility opened in 2005, administrators report that the lobby and public areas are busy, the healing gardens are popular and lively, and the windows are open.

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SUBSCRIPTION SAMPLE Washington State Veterans' Home, designed by NBBJ. Photo: Michelle Litvin Exterior shades protect against excessive solar heat gain. Photo: Michelle Litvin Ample daylight contributes to a noninstitutional atmosphere. Photo: Michelle Litvin The large building is divided into smaller "neighborhoods." Photo: Michelle Litvin Washington State Veterans' Home floor plan. Image: NBBJ Extra Large Image Y-shaped resident room, with a dividing wall for privacy. Image: NBBJ Double-hung windows open easily for thermal adjustments. Photo: Matt Milios Washington State Veterans' Home entry. Photo: Michelle Litvin   Click on thumbnail images to view full-size pictures.