three: living architecture Announces the Solana at Cinco Ranch Addition and The Solana at Germantown

DALLAS - May 21, 2013 - PRLog -- three: living architecture, one of the most experienced boutique design firms in the hospitality industry, is pleased to announce two new senior living projects. The Solana at Cinco Ranch, located in Katy, Texas, is a 20,000-square-foot expansion to the existing community, which already included independent living and assisted living, and which three also designed. The expansion, which will open July 2013, features 20 new memory care units and six additional assisted living units.  The property is owned by Formation Development Group and affiliates and  managed by The Arbor Company. The Solana at Germantown, located in Germantown, Tennessee, is a 210,000-square-foot ground-up development that features independent living, assisted living and memory care units. The independent living units opened in February 2013, and the assisted living and memory care units will open in June 2013. It is also owned by Formation Development Group and affiliates.  Its day-to-day operations are managed by Brookdale Senior Living.  

“We are thrilled to be a part of these projects, which allow us to incorporate a true hospitality ambience in a senior living community,” said Rocky Berg, principal and senior living practice leader for three. “We like to focus on designs that highlight customer service and make the community look and feel like a resort, while maintaining the comfort and security of home.  We have accomplished that with both of these projects.”

The Solana at Germantown had full design services from three, including construction documents and construction administration. Dan Hammons, registered architect and senior associate with three, said that the architecture featured in the project was typical of the Germantown area. three took contextual clues from a lot of homes in the area, lending The Solana a home-like feel, rather than standing out as a senior living community.  

“We decided to bring in three for both of these projects after working with the firm on the original Cinco Ranch community in 2009,” said Mark Maberry, executive vice president of Formation Development Group. “We wanted an architect who could take a fresh look at senior living.  We were looking for an exciting new feel and a departure from traditional senior living design. We appreciated three’s background in boutique design. We brought them back on board for the Cinco Ranch addition, and for the complete design of the Germantown project. Not only do they have the technical background, but they also are a lot of fun to work with on a project. They’re really good folks and that certainly tipped the scale in their favor.”

three faced constraints and zoning issues in building The Solana at Germantown, which also played into the design, highlighting three’s creative use of space. Along the road, there was a height restriction, limiting the building to a height of 35 feet at the mid-point of the roof. However, the owner needed a certain number of apartments to make the project financially feasible. In response, three designed the building to appear as two-story houses from the front, while it was built into the ground on the back, allowing for two extra stories and more room for occupancy. The public can’t see that it’s a four-story building until they get to the courtyard. The courtyard not only allowed for the extra apartments, it has become a key amenity space for the residents.

“It’s visually deceiving,” Hammons said. “But it fulfills the program and zoning issues, and fits well into the scale of adjacent sites.”

three was also instrumental in getting the buildings to look and function as Formation Development Group desired. There are functional spaces throughout, including several different dining options: the main traditional restaurant, a café, a wine bar, a sports bar and outdoor dining.  These various dining venues and multi-purpose spaces provide opportunities to try new things and encourage friendship among residents, which is one of the things Maberry said he loves to see in a community.  

“The seniors we serve are pretty incredible folks,” Maberry said. “There’s nothing more gratifying than seeing people enjoying the property, and providing them a great place to live.”