Title: Forest at Duke
Location of Proejct: Durham, North Carolina
Project Completion Date: N/A
Firm Name: Perkins Eastman Architects

Short Description: Campus unity, community connectivity and the celebration of diversity form the guiding principles for the culture at The Forest at Duke. This new repositioning endeavor provides the support for a growing demand in the region and positions them to remain completive in the market. The primary components include a new Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living building designed around the small house model of care and an amenity-rich independent living apartment building. Together these two buildings form a link that connects the resident experience across the full continuum of care.

Architect's Statement: A New Vision

The Forest at Duke is a not-for-profit senior living community located in Durham, NC. Formed in 1988, the campus was acquired by a group of faculty and neighbors of Duke University that shared a passion for forward-thinking, resident-centered care. With tremendous growth in the region, The Forest at Duke realized an opportunity to reposition their campus to provide more competitive services and residences that are more closely aligned with market expectations.
During early visioning workshops, Perkins Eastman helped guide leadership towards adopting a two-phased approach. Phase 01 involves a culture shift of adopting the Small House model of care. To make room, a few existing cottages will be demolished. Nine new households of ten residents each will take their place. This concept of decentralizing and re-scaling the healthcare portion of the campus gave staff the tools they needed to help realize their vision of improving resident care. Once phase 01 is complete and all existing residents are relocated to their new home, the existing institutional healthcare building will be demolished to make room for the Phase 02 portion of the project. Phase 02 helps to balance the ratio of healthcare beds and independent living units on campus by introducing 73 new two-bedroom apartment units. With unit sizes ranging from 900SF to 1600 SF, these upscale apartments provide a new revenue-generating product on campus and increase marketability to the broader region.


Campus Unity and Community Connections

The campus is located a few miles south of Duke University in Durham, NC. Downtown Durham, is a short drive to the east and is known for its culturally rich civic institutions and charming dining and brewery scene. Surrounding suburban neighborhoods are quiet and densely wooded with scattered parks and recreational trails. Primary access occurs along Picket Road to the north via a gated entry complete with guard house. Staff, residents and guests enter through a boulevard-like arrival court that connects to the broader campus road network. The existing campus is comprised of four distinct elements: 1) primary commons amenities located at the main entry. 2) Independent Living apartments that stretch from east to west, 3) Cottage homes arranged along a campus ring road, 4) Assisted Living and Skilled Care centrally located. The new projects are oriented between the existing cottages and main building to form a new linking network of spaces that blurs the boundary between healthcare spaces and independent living amenities. Residents from a spectrum of care levels along with staff and visitors are now connected by a common spine. The wings of both the healthcare building and the adjacent independent living building are arranged to maximize exterior exposure and resident access to the outdoor spaces between them. Landscaped gardens, pathways, plazas, and private balconies form a network of natural environments that support healthy living and wellness inspired experiences.


Linking existing to new

Level 2000 aligns with the existing main entry level and forms a direct connection to the commons spaces located within the existing building that include dining venues, meeting halls, a library, administrative offices, and other amenities. This main street experience is now strengthened with a new bistro, landscaped plaza, fitness center, and clinic. The connecting spaces are elongated towards the healthcare building and cottages beyond to provide equal access to all residents on campus.


Culture Change

A fundamental concept of the small house model of care is a reduction in the overall scale of a nursing unit with an emphasis on a home-like environment. The existing nursing unit consisted of two large, expansive units with an institutional character. Resident commons spaces were forced to accommodate large groups of 30-40 residents with minimal access to natural light. The new model is comprised of (9) vertically stacked households of 10 resident rooms. Walking distances are decreased while access to natural light is dramatically increased. Each household has its own living room, dining room, den, spa, and is connected to the neighbors with an amenity link.


Community Spaces

The residential wings of the Independent Living Building area arranged to maximize their exposure and access to the natural environment. A landscaped plaza deck is located atop two levels of parking that provides and outdoor amenity for both residents and staff.
The balconies of each apartment unit serve as an extension of their living space and connect to the landscaped plaza below. Large windows draw natural light further into the unit interior and activate the façade.
The spaces between the buildings help to create a sense of place within the larger community. They provide opportunities for discovery and places to socialize. Large operable windows connect the residents to these spaces and allow them to engage with the natural environment.