Design for Aging

On February 27, the AIANY Design for Aging Committee joined an interactive tour and discussion about “What About Age?“, an exhibition on the impact of ageism in contemporary society. Dr. Stacey Gordon, the exhibition director and Program Director of Next Phase Adult Caregiving and Retirement at Work Life, provided an insightful overview of the product’s creation, the message behind each panel, and how we can see reflections of ourselves within the exhibit. In the post-tour discussion, she encouraged attendees to reflect on their feelings about their current age. Committee members had the chance to reassess their own views on aging, hear perspectives from peers of different ages, and reconsider how aging-focused design can support both physical and mental well-being.

Coming-up:

• March 27: Paula Span (journalist from the New York Times who focuses her writing on aging) will join our meeting.
• May 22: Barbara Baer from the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens would be presenting the Home Sharing and Respite Care Program.

Good reads and more:

• Rightsizing in Place (AVA Housing): a key insights video exploring an Irish NGO with an innovative scheme—helping older homeowners to renovate their single family home so they can age in place, while creating and managing a new affordable rental unit.
• Reimagining Senior Housing: a webinar exploring key questions as how do investors and developers identify solid opportunities? Which deals are most attractive to lenders? And which types of properties offer the greatest ROI potential? Register here.
• The New Senior Health Care Consumer: Optum Healthcare, the consulting division of United Healthcare, recently released a white paper on the growing healthcare needs of seniors. Item 1 could greatly benefit from input and participation from professionals in the AEC field.
• In memory of Jerry: it is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Nathan Jerry Maltz, one of the founding co-chairs of the Design for Aging Committee. We are considering dedicating one of our upcoming programs in his honor. As Christine so beautifully put it, “Jerry was a unique and endlessly curious New Yorker who embodied the best of the city.” He will be greatly missed.

The Design for Aging Committee November meeting was delighted to have Kate Leitch from Citizens Housing & Planning Council (CHPC) who presented CHPC’s work related to ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). Check out their publications here! And a complete recording of the presentation and discussion can be found here.

We also talked about potential Field Trips. Ted Porter is working with his contact at Marvel to organize a tour of Stonewall House Senior Residences. This would likely happen in the early part of 2025. We agreed that a Friday afternoon trip would be best for most of us. Christine Hunter is working with MAP to organize a tour of Rheingold Senior Residences. Both projects are in Brooklyn so we could potentially combine the two in one day. We will continue to discuss the logistics and update the group once details are firmed up.

Finally, we discussed the NYCHA project that is being revived with DFA funds. We are forming a sub-committee to expand on the study done a few years ago with NYCHA’s Amsterdam Houses. A kick-off meeting is scheduled for 1/30 at 6pm at the Center for Architecture.

Coming up:

• December End of Year Potluck: We will meet on 12/12 (5–6:30pm) in person at the Center for Architecture. Feel free to bring food and/or drinks to share!
• January: David Gissen will join our meeting that month. David is the author of The Architecture of Disability and is a professor of Architecture and Urban History at The New School.
• February: Paula Span (a journalist from the New York Times who focuses her writing on aging) will join our meeting that month. Read one of her latest articles here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/realestate/senior-move-managers-relocation.html

On November 20, the AIANY Design for Aging and AIANY Committee on Residential Architecture were pleased to co-host a cocktail party and conversational workshop at PID Floors Showroom to allow dog-loving designers, puppy-care professionals, and emotionally supportive canine companions to share knowledge and experience gained from successfully creating dog-friendly spaces.

Elaine Santos, Principal, Elaine Santos Design, Christopher Gardner, Principal, TUNA Architecture, and Colin Hunter, Canine Trainer, Dogtown had a conversation in a casual manner with each other. Elaine and Chris spoke to what they take into consideration when designing homes for their clients with dogs. Colin spoke to wellness strategies used by Dogtown for dogs of all types/breeds and ages. In addition to indoor, outdoor design considerations were also been discussed. Each told a story with regards to their professional relationship to designing for or caring for the needs of dogs.

The Design for Aging Committee October meeting was delighted to have Haym Gross, founding member of NYC 2030 District, a non-profit climate partnership focused on building energy and renewable energy, to speak to us about his work with Bridge St. Development Corporation, and Karp Strategies (as well as others) to preserve HUD 202 Senior Supportive Housing in Brooklyn (and beyond). Haym’s team is engaged in studying current conditions at a number of these properties and recommends improvements. Kendall Christiansen (member of the committee) is also involved and talked about his experience on the project as well.

A few resources that were brought up during the meeting include:

• Cadence OneFive: an online platform that can help building owners optimize and understand financial incentives for their building’s energy retrofit needs among other things.
• Heat/ Cool Smart Brooklyn: an example of a successful program administered by NYC 2030 District and sponsored by the Brooklyn Borough President and NYSERDA to help owners retrofit their buildings with envelope improvements and electrification of heat.

We also talked about ideas on how to use DFA committee funds that were recently confirmed by AIANY to be available. The group agreed to move forward with expanding on the study done a few years ago with NYCHA’s Amsterdam Houses. The project focused on ways to better accommodate seniors living in multi-generational communities. One idea is to come up with a prototype that is more applicable to the majority of NYCHA buildings. We will discuss this more at the November meeting to figure out the next steps, so ideas and participation are welcome from interested members as we try to define the project more! 

Coming up:

• Next meeting. We will meet on 11/21 from 5-6:30 pm and the meeting will be hybrid. Kate Leitch from Citizens Housing & Planning Council (CHPC) will be presenting the work the organization has been doing related to ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units). CHPC is a non-profit research and education organization focused on housing and planning policy in NYC.
• December: We will meet on 12/19 in person at the Center for Architecture. The idea would be to have a Holiday potluck get-together!  We will discuss this at the November meeting.

Happy summer! The DFA July Committee Meeting had a heated discussion on the topic of ADUs with new zoning—an opportunity for people to age in place with families. Members expressed interests in ADU zoning changes being offered in NYC and design for aging with ADUs, and brainstormed potential connections with AARP NYC, Jonathan Marvel (affordable housing company),  and AIANY Custom Residential Architects Network and/or Housing Committee. 

The discussion also covered co-housing projects such as Carehaus which provides aging in place with a sense of community, and NYCHA campus projects like the Atrium at Sumner and Stonewall House that bring different experiences to their residents. The Committee would like to invite related designers and/or residents to share their thoughts.

During the August meeting on 8/22, we will have the pleasure of welcoming NYSID Graduate students who are completing their Master’s in Public Services in Healthcare Interior. Four students will be presenting their capstone proposals:

Sarah – affordable multigenerational housing in East Village
Wenqi – luxury aging-friendly apartments on Highline
Wenfei – new universal design for medical services – nurse station, cabinets, and way-finding
Ashley – hospice for the young population in Puerto Rico

So join us in August!