October 1, 2006 | by I Advance Senior Care

Design Center

Sunrise of Connecticut Avenue
WASHINGTON, D.C.

PROJECT SUMMARY
Type of Facility/Setting: Assisted Living
Owner: Sunrise Senior Living, (703) 273-7500
Chief Administrator: Tanya Walker, Executive Director, (202) 966-8020
Architecture: BeeryRio, (703) 426-9057
Photography: Judy Davis, Hoachlander Davis Photography, (202) 364-9306
Resident Capacity: 100 units
Total Project Area: 96,250 sq. ft.
Construction Costs (excluding land): $19,800,000
Cost/Sq. Ft.: $206

The perfect blend

BY SANDRA HOBAN, MANAGING EDITOR

Located south of Chevy Chase Circle in the established Northwest neighborhood of Washington, D.C., Sunrise of Connecticut Avenue is a perfect fit. The building’s design integrates with the streetscape, allowing residents to interact with their neighbors. According to Executive Director Tanya Walker, many of the residents’ friends and families live within a five-mile radius. “Because of this proximity, many family members can stop by on their way to or from work to have a cup of coffee, attend an event, or have dinner with a loved one.” The first-floor bistro also makes it easy for a care manager to invite a resident to share conversation and enjoy a glass of lemonade in summer, or a cup of hot chocolate in winter.

Sunrise of Connecticut Avenue’s location within walking distance of a neighborhood school gives residents opportunities to interact with the children. “We have a lot of intergenerational programming here, and the proximity of the school enables more participation and interaction with the seniors,” comments Walker. As an added bonus, children sometimes stop by and volunteer.

The seven-story, high-rise building is a great draw for residents, many of whom have spent their lives in this urban area. “Many of our residents have been apartment dwellers, and they are comfortable navigating the neighborhood to enjoy its many diversions, such as shopping, museums, and the Chevy Chase Senior Center,” says Walker. Rocking chairs line the exterior of the building, making it a popular spot for socialization and people-watching. “Residents can also enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of the outdoors on our rooftop terrace and from the safety of the third-floor patio of our Reminiscence ‘neighborhood,’ which is for residents with Alzheimer’s,” Walker adds.

Inside the building, each floor has a laundry room and a hydrotub area, called the “bathtique,” for resident and caregiver convenience. “Our mission is to create a homelike environment for our residents, and features such as the bathtique support that mission,” says Walker.

“The homelike environment this building provides has made my job so much easier,” Walker reflects. “When clients enter Sunrise of Connecticut Avenue, they already feel the connection-the blend-between the internal and external communities, which is a great selling feature.”

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