Cityscape at Belmar
This 4-story senior housing project is intended to encourage dynamic living and activity for today’s active senior population through numerous innovative design features. One such feature incorporated is an architecturally significant “Health Stair” designed to encourage resident use for activity and fitness.
The building configuration is a south facing ‘C’ shaped courtyard with a 3 story single unit projection off the South end, while the East building wing is lowered by one story to maximize light and views to the wet land detention pond beyond. The southwest portion of the building contains a transparent storefront grade level amenity area with several access points to the main entry, southern plaza and internal courtyard. A solar awning wraps the southern façade and provides shade for an adjacent plaza. The project includes a total of 130 units, 96 of which are income-restricted while 33 are market-rate.
Many interior/exterior amenities have been designed for a high level of living. Courtyard amenities include in-built in grill and gas fire pit, privacy screens at courtyard unit entries with personalized raised planters and a suspended central shade structure. An accessible roof top garden as well as a courtyard community garden is planned for the enjoyment of the residents. The exterior massing is broken down with a rain screen panel system, cement fiber panels siding, and a metal panel system with shadow boxes to create interest and scale on the facade. The amenity wing is also rich in interior amenities such as main community room with wrap around glazing, community kitchen, fitness and flex room and billiards room to name a few.
COST: $18 MM
SIZE: 186,000 SF
CLIENT: Metro West Housing Solutions
LOCATION: Lakewood, Colorado
DATE COMPLETE: 2015
Resident Experiences
Studio Completiva completed a post-occupancy study with the help of Ethnoworks, the following quotes are from that study:
“Your health is part of aging and what surrounds you is very important. Are there happy things around you? Is your space uplifting? That’s what I find at Cityscape. People don’t realize that your environment is critical to your well-being and your health.” (Amanda)
“Living in mixed-income buildings is not even an issue. I think it’s because we’re all seniors, we’re all facing the same things in life, and we’re all living on fixed incomes now. When we were working, the income difference seemed much more important. It was a difference in status. Now, the gaps don’t seem to be that important… if we want to go out to dinner as a group and someone doesn’t get their social security check until next week, we all just wait a week.” (Joe & Patty)
“People from the neighborhood will walk up here to look at the gardens. Everybody walks around and comments on the gardens and how they’re doing. It kind of builds a little sense of community, even if you don’t garden yourself.” (Krista)
“Cityscape is my home. I think of the whole building as my home, not only my apartment. It’s warm and welcoming, people are wonderful, and I can disappear into my room if I want to.” (Amanda)
