Easterseals MORC Autism Comprehensive Care Center /  by Salix Sampson

We are thrilled to announce the completion of the Easterseals MORC Autism Comprehensive Care Center in Waterford, Michigan! The new 16,900-square-foot care center takes an innovative approach to provide integrated behavioral health services for the growing number of children and adults on the autism spectrum throughout Southeast Michigan.

Easterseals MORC Autism Comprehensive Care Center entry

Materials

  • Soft green and blue hues are used in spaces, like Main Street or the Younger Kids area, to reduce stress and promote safety, relaxation, and connection to nature.

  • Indoor and Outdoor play areas incorporate a variety of tactile, swaying, swinging, and sound producing elements—giving children opportunities for motor activity and sensory exploration.

  • Carpeting in Main Street is made with over 80% recycled materials.

  • Colors, shapes, and textures provide direction and wayfinding nodes throughout the building.

Orientation

  • Maximized sunshine at play areas and minimized winds from the west make these areas more useful throughout the year.

  • North and east facing windows on Main Street allow for soft, consistent natural light and avoid eye-straining bright glares.

  • Building’s form allowed for the conservation of existing trees, including a 100+ year old oak tree!

Acoustics

  • Reduce HVAC sounds and and other environmental noises

  • Acoustical separations to provide increased privacy

Lighting

  • Colorful lighting in the shape of kites and clouds provide both fun and visual wayfinding

    elements for the young kids and their families.

  • Dimmable, color changing lighting in the Circle Time room can be adjusted depending on the activities to make it comfortable and appropriate for the kids.

  • Natural light is abundant throughout the building and filtered at the building envelope, where appropriate.

Safety

  • Main Street windows provide greater visibility on the playscape

  • Outdoor play area utilizes autism appropriate play stations for multiple age groups


Check out a walkthrough of the Care Center: Autism Comprehensive Care Center Video Tour

Hosel Rockets Golf & Whiskey Lounge in Waterford, Michigan /  by Kevin Boyle

BASIC DESIGN and our engineering team completed A/E services for the conversion of a vacant Rite-Aid store in Waterford, Michigan. The 11,000 sq ft store and pharmacy is now a restaurant, lounge and golf simulator.

Hosel Rockets WEBSITE

Existing Photos:

After (interior design by Hosel Rockets)

Hansen's Hall in Oak Park, Michigan /  by Kevin Boyle

BASIC DESIGN was the architect for the renovation of this existing building on Nine Mile Rd in Oak Park.

Article on Daily Detroit

Autism Comprehensive Care Center announced in Waterford, Michigan /  by Kevin Boyle

Easterseals MORC has demolished its former building at the Oakland County municipal complex and getting ready to break ground on new construction on the same site.

Part of an $8.2 million project, the new 16,900-square-foot location will provide spaces tailored to serve the growing number of children and adults on the autism spectrum and their families. It will also provide integrated behavioral health services.

Read More

Autism Comprehensive Care Center /  by Kevin Boyle

At the Oakland County Government Campus - it is groundbreaking day for Easterseals MORC and their 16,900 sq ft Autism Comprehensive Care Center!

Resorting to the Resort Model /  by Kevin Boyle

Modern resorts provide excellent inspiration that can be implemented when considering the design of new rehabilitation facilities. Although checking into a resort and a rehabilitation facility happen under very different circumstances, they share similar levels of complexity of staff and service flow, guest needs and service requirements.

Entrance and Lobby at WellBridge of Clarkston

From arrival at the main entry through registration, the interior environment designed using the resort model can transform both the image of a rehabilitation facility and the resident’s experience during their stay. The analogy between rehab and resort is strong when you acknowledge the parallels. Guests check in, stay in a guest room, schedule therapies, relax in gardens, and go to cafés and dining rooms. Guests are on property for a week or two and return home, feeling invigorated. The Resort Model provides spa services, a hair salon, massage therapy, a coffee house and lounge, outdoor gardens and terraces with views to nature, all in addition to physical and occupational therapy suites.

Lobby and Gallery at WellBridge of Grand Blanc



By branding a concept and marketing an experience that sharply contrasts with the traditional medical model rehab facility, additional revenue generation can be achieved. The Resort Model rehabilitation facility is a desired destination rather than a medical necessity between hospital and home. For the guest experience, caregivers have an ability to provide services to guests in an environment based on relaxation and retreat while facility owners obtain a strategic method to differentiate their operations and philosophy of care from competitors.

Sitting porch at MediLodge of Montrose


A new 39-Bed Skilled Nursing Facility in Saginaw, Michigan. /  by Kevin Boyle

This existing building at the Wellspring campus in Saginaw, Michigan is set to be renovated and converted to a new 39-Bed Skilled Nursing Facility. The project budget is approximately $5.5M. BASIC DESIGN will be the architect.

MLIVE news article

Architectural Design in the Era of COVID-19 /  by Kevin Boyle

At BASIC Design, we are studying ways to help mitigate the effects of COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities and other senior care and senior living environments. Each environment is unique, and every situation has its own complexities. But we believe that we can assist every owner, administrator and care team with an approach that is appropriate for their community. Below are topics that may help to begin a discussion with you.

WHERE TO BEGIN

  • Facility Review – Identify potential issues

  • Categorize/Prioritize – Plan of Action

  • Develop Solutions – Identify products, systems, materials, configurations, evidence based architectural interventions

  • Implementation – construct renovations, purchase/install products, equipment

  • Follow-up – Update/revisit with new data, testing and protocols

EXISTING FACILITIES

  • Range from simple to more complicated architectural interventions to minimize the spread

  • Visible interventions to instill confidence

  • Incremental plan to keep updating elements as is possible

  • Add hand washing and sanitization capacity

  • Study ingress/egress

  • Path of travel analysis

  • Signage and wayfinding

NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ADDITIONS

  • Design for safer interactions and not social isolation

  • Make facilities safer for all occupants and users

  • Integrated UV-C light ventilation and circulation systems

  • Add hand washing and sanitization capacity

  • Signage and wayfinding

  • Private Rooms with space for seating and dining - SUITES

  • Touchless fixtures, doors, systems

WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF CURRENT AND UPCOMING REGULATIONS:

  • CMS regulations and State Regulations

  • Fire/egress Implications

  • CDC Guidance

  • Evidence Based Design Solutions

RESIDENT ROOM DESIGN (RETRO FIT AND NEW CONSTRUCTION)

  • Social distancing/separation

  • PPE in room? Storage and Disposal? Gloves on/off?

  • Hand washing/sanitation at optimal locations

  • Telemedicine added in room? Portable?

  • What can be done to (temporarily) to improve safety of semi-private rooms (where all private rooms are not available/not feasible at this time)

TOUCHLESS ENTRY

  • Automatic door hardware retro fit

  • Antimicrobial metal finish

ACRYLIC GUARDS/PANELS

  • Identify most effective/durable products

  • Local fabricator connections

SURFACES/MATERIALS

  • Upholstery fabric selections

  • Door handles

  • Handrail surfaces

  • Wall finishes

  • Special antimicrobial paints/wallcoverings

HVAC

  • Negative pressure rooms

  • Retrofit

    • What does it take, how expensive?

    • What has to be introduced, architectural modifications or access needed to be provided?

    • Temporary / “Makeshift”

    • Walls to deck

    • HEPA filter machine

    • Seals on doors

    • Window panel with flex duct venting

  • New Construction

    • What does it take, what is budget added expense

    • Door seals or undercut doors?

    • More/additional RTU’s , roof pit locations

  • Other Options - less than negative pressure

    • Min. CMS/State regulations – future regulations

    • System options and idea of budget numbers

    • Provide UV-C ligoht in ductwork for pass-by air decontamination

DIETARY/FOOD

  • Dining Room acrylic shields on tables

  • Social distancing furniture layout, and propose supplemental dining locations

  • Safe food delivery and disposal in main dining and supplemental dining

Introducing BASIC DESIGN! /  by Kevin Boyle

Introducing BASIC DESIGN!

Architects Kevin Boyle and John Savitski are proud to announce the opening of their new Detroit-based firm called BASIC DESIGN. After many successful years with JW Design, we transitioned our knowledge and staff to a new location with a new name. We carry forward professional design services and the creative energy it takes to bring a project to successful completion. And we continue our work with expert consulting teams who know the ins and outs of complex commercial projects.

Specialized expertise

Our designers specialize in residential, commercial, hospitality, senior care and senior living projects. We have an acute focus on efficient unit design optimized for constructability and waste reduction. Our niche in the senior care and senior living market ranges from groundbreaking new concepts to modest renovations and additions -- and everything in between.

We have high expectations for your project

BASIC DESIGN conceives demographically driven and artistically considered project solutions. Our focus is to clearly and completely identify the project’s end user needs, aspirations and goals. We design appropriate, creative, technologically forward-thinking, energy efficient projects.

That's all for now. We'll be keeping in touch here and there to share news and views.