Case Study:
From Vacant to Vibrant
Open Arms — a Vibrant Assisted Living Facility and Chapel.
Project Overview
A vacant elementary school from the 1960s, once part of a faith-based community, has been reimagined into Open Arms Assisted Living, a vibrant, affordable assisted living neighborhood that also preserves its connection to the community with a chapel for local congregations.
This $5 million project encompassed the repurposing and expansion of an existing church and school facility. The architectural firm Synergy-RE collaborated with a new capital partner to bring the community’s vision to life, delivering architecture, development, construction management, operations, and general management services. Despite challenges such as extensive asbestos abatement and construction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was completed on time and within budget.
17,000sf of education space was repurposed into 30 beds of assisted living complete with bedroom, kitchens, social spaces, Telehealth infrastructure and data distribution, church facilities serving multiple congregations, and rental space for community events.
Featured in COLORADO CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN MAGAZINE
Project Goals
Physically Sustainable
Reduce carbon footprint by repurposing an existing structure.
Enhance building efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Culturally Sustainable
Continue the property’s legacy as a religious institution serving multiple congregations.
Economically Sustainable
Reduce construction costs by repurposing existing assets, leading to lower financial burden on stakeholders by lowering the loan amount.
Technologically Advanced
Incorporate Telehealth technology to provide innovative, remote healthcare solutions for residents.
Resilience and Adaptability
Successfully complete the project despite the constraints of a global pandemic.
Challenges
Repurposing Complexities
Limited precedents for transforming a school into an assisted living facility.
Rezoning and special use permits required by the city.
Compliance and Licensing
Adhering to state certification and licensure requirements for assisted living and alternative care.
Active Use During Construction
Four congregations continued to use the chapel throughout the construction process.
Pandemic Limitations
Restricted to virtual tours for showcasing the community.
Integration of Telehealth, an emerging technology at the time, required significant learning and adaptation.
Funding Challenges
Lack of interest from traditional lenders necessitated creative financing solutions.
Solutions
Structural Integrity
Analyzed and reinforced the original 1968 wood-frame structure, which had been expanded in 1978, ensuring compliance with modern standards.
Design Innovation
Adhering to state certification and licensure Installed fiber-optic internet to facilitate bedside Telehealth consultations.
Introduced electric heat pumps, reducing reliance on the original boiler and cutting energy consumption in half.
Community Impact
Located the development in a low-impact area directly across from a public elementary school.
Created a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to own and operate the property, with a board composed of congregation and community members.
Ensured affordability and accessibility by serving Medicaid, VA, and PACE beneficiaries.
Maintained licenses for both assisted living and alternative care, enabling intergenerational residency.
Pandemic Limitations
Restricted to virtual tours for showcasing the community.
Integration of Telehealth, an emerging technology at the time, required significant learning and adaptation.
Continued Religious Use
Preserved the chapel for the ongoing use of four congregations, ensuring a seamless integration of community services and worship.
Successfully completed the project despite the constraints of a global pandemic.
Key Features
100% Barrier-Free Design: All spaces are fully accessible, ensuring inclusivity for residents with mobility challenges.
Accessible Bathrooms and Showers: Rebuilt and modified existing designs to meet ADA standards.
Enhanced Vertical Circulation: Adjusted and modernized vertical circulation elements for full ADA compliance.
Lessons Learned
Repurposing in Action: Open Arms Assisted Living demonstrates how repurposing underutilized assets can breathe new life into communities while preserving their cultural and historical significance.
Community-Led Transformation: A small, congregation-driven nonprofit can successfully adapt its purpose without losing sight of its mission.
Sustainability: Reusing existing structures is not only environmentally sound but also financially and culturally advantageous.
Do you have a vacant or underutilized building in your community?
Contact us today to explore innovative ways to repurpose and revitalize your spaces: