Presented By Staff & Members of the North Carolina Center
for Creative Retirement
Ann Bass
Jim Hegglund
Jacque Morgan
Dave Stewart
Ron Manheimer (Moderator)
This workshop showed participants how to acquire one’s own premises.
Please contact the presenters for more detailed information.
Jacque Morgan
Developing the Program
In developing the program for the building we looked at four main areas
– space needs, functionality, ambience and budget. What did we want
the building to look like? Specifically, we looked at the internal community
needs, external Community needs, the University needs and an intergenerational
need.
A Steering Committee was selected comprised of two co-chairs and the
Center Director. From the concept of the committee-subcommittee structure
it was deemed important that the subcommittees include North Carolina
Center for Creative Retirement or CCR members, CCR staff, UNC Asheville
Vice Chancellor of Development and the UNCA Vice Chancellor for Financial
Affairs.
The subcommittees were Building, Finance, Fundraising and Program. In
order to design a functional new building, the Program Committee needed
to acquire more information than what they had. So strategic questions
were asked in focus groups, surveys and individual contacts. What we heard
became the overall philosophy.
It was essential that the building be user friendly, communicate openness
and be receptive to program participants. We were sensitive to the fact
that the building design would make a statement about who we are. Foremost
we want to see ourselves as a community of learners who are of service
to the larger society. We were not an isolated entity, but part of the
university and the community as a whole. An important goal was for our
members to have a sense of ownership of this facility, to identify it
as our space. A safe place where we could come together to learn, develop
relationships and build a community. The building would not look like
an institution, but communicate a sense of home.
The building would primarily be used for CCR activities. However, the
university and community agencies would use space on available basis.
At this time CCR was renting classroom space from other entities within
the community, such as churches, park and recreation facilities, and retirement
community activity rooms. The overall pattern for administration would
change as the result of housing all staff and programs in one facility.
In addition new programs would be developed and they would need additional
space.
New technology would result in learning pattern changes. Teleconferencing
facilities and the use of interactive web pages and distance learning
made it imperative that the building design make provisions for wiring,
HVAC, etc., to support future technology.
All of the operational programs in existence at that time were reviewed
as well as those in the planning stages. Each program was assessed as
to its present and future needs. It was impossible to predict what future
program requirements would be. We did make six general observations:
1. The CCR programs would grow faster than the population of the area.
2. There would be an increased use of technology and distance learning
programs.
3. There would be a trend towards increased intergenerational programs.
4. There would be increased programs for learning through community service.
5. There would be increased use of volunteers if office space would be
provided.
6. The Wellness program would increase.
Flexability and adequate growth space were important building guidelines.
Our Space Requirements
Our facility would mainly serve older adults. Therefore there
was a need to be sensitive to hearing impairments, vision limitations,
easy-to-use hardware and an elevator large enough to accommodate a wheel
chair. Parking should be close to the building. Orientation to the sun
regarding fading, glare, temperature and use of overhangs was considered.
We encouraged the use of passive solar energy.
The facility will be useful for at least 50 years. With that in mind
an expansion plan was needed – more rooms, not larger ones. A cloakroom
or at least strategically place coat hooks in the hallways and classrooms
were important. The plans were to include a coffee/hot water bar on each
of the two floors located out of the way of congested areas. Overall building
security including after hours access was also a consideration.
After careful calculation with the architect, the estimated total building
program would need at least 16,500 square feet. The Center would have
a common area on each floor. An auditorium for 150 would be included.
To afford a comfortable ambience, socializing places and an open-air atrium
were designed. Coffee/hot water bars and sufficient restrooms were planned
on each floor. Near the main entrance would be a computerized scheduling,
electronic bulletin board. Secure cloakrooms or coat hooks outside the
classrooms, and adequate building security was included.
A Welcome Center with an information desk and a lounge were designed.
The Administrative reception area would hold a few chairs, small tables
and a bulletin board. The administrative core would contain six offices,
workroom and a storage room.
An interactive computer terminal in open areas with student access to
an interactive CCR web site was designed. It was important that a Wall
of Honor indicating building donors be placed in a strategic place. Wall
space, bulletin boards and literature racks were included to highlight
Center programs and activities. Also a snack service was added.
The design called for six classrooms/seminar/conference rooms equipped
with audio-visuals in each room. There would be two conventional classrooms,
which would hold 45 students, 2 seminar rooms, which would hold 25 students,
a computer lab and a crafts room for 30 students. Also whiteboards, screens,
two computer connections and storage for chairs and tables would be in
each room.
The seminar rooms would contain moveable tables and chairs to allow for
flexibility. The seminar room would allow for 2-way interactive distance
learning. A computer lab was designed with 20-24 stations in LAN network
with teacher and connections to all university facilities.
The craft room would have a hard floor surface, large tables, sinks and
220 power. The multi-purpose room would include a portable stage, mats,
mirrors, storage and wellness needs. At last but not least, a catering
kitchen, which would include a small cafe and storage space was planned.
Restrooms were required on both floors with the women’s room larger
than the men’s. Janitorial storage and mechanical space was needed
on both floors and should not be located near the restrooms.
The outside of the building was planned for activities. First of all,
there needed to be ample parking close to the building. An entrance on
each floor, a multi-use outdoor paved area marked for shuffleboard and
basketball were included. 400 feet of covered patios, which held table
and chairs were also added. As long as we were wishing, we looked at adding
a par course, horseshoe pit and nature trails. In the event that additional
funds were raised, the first priority would be an additional 500 feet
for more modular offices.
The Budget Target
In 1998 the committees and architect set the budget for $3 million. By
the end of the design process in 2001, the amount had risen to $4.3 million.
The reasons given were inflation, an economy of competitive contractors,
the architect’s original estimates were too low at the beginning
and the site preparation. This later figure included the building, furniture,
technology, landscape, site preparation and parking lots. One big surprise
in the whole scheme of the budget was the site preparation. Once the digging
started, huge boulders were found and had to be removed with additional
expense to the project.
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