The Kensington of Falls Church
The Kensington of Falls Church is a high-end assisted living and memory care facility. For this project, Forrester constructed a five story steel and concrete structure designed to LEED Silver standards. The exterior façade is a combination of cast stone, brick, and cementitious siding that helps maintain the residential feel while fitting into the urban environment. The building’s first level includes a 16,000 square foot parking garage and loading dock and two finished spaces including one occupied by a commercial tenant and the other occupied by Falls Church Arts. The remaining floors provide living space for seniors with apartment style residential units, each featuring a bedroom, private bath, kitchenette and closet space, and common areas such as dining areas, serveries, a gourmet kitchen, cafes, piano lounges, a library, cinema entertainment rooms, and multiple outdoor terraces. The second floor contains the largest outdoor plaza that consists of concrete pavers, a stainless steel serving station with granite counter tops, a gas fireplace with stone surround, and a trellis and pergola system along the exterior side. There are also nurse’s stations on each level, a hair salon on the property, and a physical therapy room to ensure residents stay active. Residential spaces are climate controlled using heat pumps with fresh air supplied via dedicated rooftop outdoor air units, while the common areas are conditioned via fan-powered water source heat pumps.
Project challenges included the removal and reinstallation of dry utilities for the block and removal of unsuitable and contaminated soil. The project also required careful coordination of an intricate security and wander prevention system to ensure the safety of the residents. The Team had to work in a tight project site located in an urban environment with little-to-no lay down area, and the coordinate of local municipalities.
Project Location:
Falls Church, VA
Architect:
BeeryRio, Inc.
Size:
100,000 SF
Schedule:
16 months
