Woodcrest Villa Retirement Home

Woodcrest Villa, part of Mennonite Home Communities, has been providing care, services and housing for retirees since the turn of the 20th century. Since becoming an independent living facility in 1990, Woodcrest Villa has steadily grown in both population and physical size thanks to land donations and purchases over the years. Beginning with the original 144 apartments opened in 1993, Woodcrest Villa has grown to 342 apartments and 100 villas with a population of approximately 540 residents.

Many of those residents are “baby boomers,” who are accustomed to a strong sense of community. They tend to be a very social group, thriving on group activities and interpersonal interaction. In an effort to provide an environment where residents feel at home, Woodcrest Villa began plans in 2014 to add a new wellness center and auditorium. Over the past 15 months, this project has expanded to include a space for arts and crafts, a bistro, a swimming pool and a second, smaller theater.

Construction of this expansion was based on 20,000 square feet of existing structure, to which another 30,000 square feet was added. Historically, Woodcrest Villa’s facilities followed a simple, traditional look. For this expansion, though, they desired a more modern design – without being ostentatious. Woodcrest Villa knew the right details could pull the entire project together, and included a grand staircase as a focal point in the building’s main foyer.

HDI went to work, designing a contemporary railing system which could carry a unique look through the multiple floor-to-floor transitions. The decision to go with Ferric™ made the most sense: Ferric’s mechanical, threaded connections give the railings a sleek, modern feeling, while wooden top rail and glass infill keep the look grounded in simple, classic design. In addition to being installed on the stairway near the main entrance to the facility, the Ferric system was incorporated into various balconies and landings throughout the building. This created a functional but unified look between the original and newer construction.

John Sauder, VP of Operations for Mennonite Home Communities, was extremely pleased with the result. “Our new railing system gives us the smart, contemporary look we envisioned from the start,” said Mr. Sauder.

If you are looking for the ideal railing system for your next construction or renovation project, and want a system that offers both form and function, share your vision with the experts at HDI. We’ll make it a reality.