Garden Spot Village (GSV) is a 220-acre Continuing Care Retirement Community featuring a Main Street/Village Center, Chapel, Center for Health, and a variety of supportive services. Residential Living is comprised of 306 independent living apartments, 315 independent living homes (cottages, carriage homes, Sycamore Springs neighborhoods and Thistledown Cooperative Living homes). Healthcare Facilities include 73 Skilled Nursing beds, 65 Personal Car beds, and 40 Memory Support beds in the newly-opened Meadow View facility.
The success of any endeavor depends on the quality of the relationships between those involved. It requires investing time and effort into understanding the client. For more than 27 years, Garden Spot Village has entrusted RGS as valued project partner. We’ve built a relationship based on clear communication, mutual respect, exemplary service, and thoughtful design. Our relationship started with a founder’s vision and initial site selection. We’ve persevered through more than 10 community expansions, several unique garden space designs, multiple styles of residential living and supportive services buildings, and now, more than 40 projects later, we share new passions that continue to thrive and grow. Most recently, we designed the award-winning Sycamore Springs, a true pocket neighborhood style of independent living as well as The Meadow View Memory Care Facility, a cutting-edge dementia care neighborhood.
Sycamore Springs
Sycamore Springs represents a new style of independent senior living, termed the “pocket neighborhood concept.” First quoined in the Pacific Northwest, these neighborhoods feature clusters of homes focused on creating intentional community connections among neighbors. Through artfully designed landscapes, interconnected sidewalks and common areas that facilitate neighborhood gatherings, Sycamore Springs’ residents form their own peer support groups focused on living life to the fullest.
Navigating Zoning for Modern Growth
Initially, local municipal ordinances did not recognize elements needed for the development and design of pocket neighborhoods. We worked closely with New Holland Borough to negotiate zoning amendments that allowed the design of the neighborhoods to establish appropriate community proportions and human comfort.
Designed to Encourage Conversations and Human Connections
A lot of attention was given to sight lines, organization of spaces and proximity of homes to one another as well as their broader orientation within each neighborhood. Each home layout includes a front porch with sufficient space to accommodate generous outdoor living, a rear-entry garage, direct access to common green space and walkable areas connecting the entire community. Residents often gather in the community house or at neighborhood terraces for celebrations which contribute to the fabric of intentional living being fostered within these neighborhoods. The clear success of the pocket neighborhood design is proving that unique solutions for senior living can truly improve overall health and well-being.
Meadow View Memory Care Facility
This innovative new 40-bed community, located on approximately 8 acres, includes two independent living apartments that connect to memory support suites so that couples can remain together, even if only one of them needs memory support care. Meadow View offers opportunities for people with dementia to live resiliently, regain their dignity and find purpose.
This state-of-the-art community features interior design elements to improve space recognition, such as unique front doors, doorknobs, and color schemes for each household. Meadow View features the latest innovations to aid with memory support and with an open and unrestrictive floorplan, residents are secure and safe.
The central Town Square features a beauty salon, coffee shop, chapel, theater, barber shop, general store, fitness room and more. A memory care garden features elements for resident interaction, wandering paths, group activities, and sensory experiences all of which allow for restorative outdoor fellowship. This therapeutic landscape was designed to provide a restorative connection with nature focusing on the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual benefits of the landscape. As designers and partners with GSV clinicians, it is our responsibility to get the design and implementation of these spaces right. It is known that therapeutic landscapes reduce stress, improve clinical outcomes, and help restore a sense of order in residents’ lives.
