Richmond, Va. — Construction is underway on the first phase of a major renovation and expansion project at the Cedarfield senior living community in western Henrico County.
The five-phase project, which is expected to have a total price tag in the $70 million-plus range, includes upgrades to its dining center and the construction of a new state-of-the-art health and wellness center with swimming pools.
Also planned are two health care household facilities — a new way of providing skilled nursing care in a more home-like environment — and 30 independent living apartments.
“These are market-driven issues,” said Christopher P. Henderson, president and CEO of Pinnacle Living, the Henrico-based company that operates Cedarfield, Hermitage Richmond and five other senior living communities in Virginia. The company changed its name in June from Virginia United Methodist Homes Inc.
“There are great senior living providers in the Richmond market, and everyone is upgrading facilities to meet the needs of residents now and in the future,” Henderson said. “We have got to keep up and meet their expectations.”
The 90-acre Cedarfield campus, located off Three Chopt Road, opened in September 1996. It now has about 500 residents.
Construction has started on the upgrades and expansion of the dining center. Cedarfield is taking its large formal dining space and adding 2,500 square feet to it and then breaking it up into three spaces — one for a fine-dining option, to be called Prima; one for a pub dining with a more casual menu, to be called Pub 2300; and a Cedar Grill marketplace that will feature a display kitchen and a small buffet area for residents to grab quick foods or take carryout to their apartments or cottages.
Expanding the part of the building with the dining center also allows for an expansion of the physical therapy area, staff dining rooms and offices — all located one floor below the dining room. The dining upgrades should be completed by May.
This fall, Cedarfield also will begin relocating part of a parking lot on the west side of the campus to make way for the future site of the health care household facilities.
By April, construction should start on an 18,000-square-foot health and wellness center that will be built in the main courtyard between the wing for its independent living apartments and the wing for its dining and health services.
The center will include a natatorium with two swimming pools — one will be 72 feet long, and the other will be a smaller exercise pool.
The health and wellness center also will have a weight training room and studio space for yoga, Pilates or dance classes. A large creative arts room will be available.
Work should be done about a year after construction starts, Henderson said.
The courtyard area also will get a makeover by adding a firepit, an outdoor barbecue area, a water feature and other upgrades.
The third phase of the project calls for building two health care household facilities for 20 residents each.
The health care household facilities are a new concept for senior living communities, Henderson said.
“The first 100 years of nursing homes were modeled after the hospital environment,” he said. “We have talked to our residents, and that kind of institutional living is a real negative. We are trying to create more of a home-like environment.”
Each building will have 20 private rooms, and those rooms will be connected to common space with living rooms and kitchens.
“As these are just the first steps in a major five-phase expansion of our campus, we knew we needed a bank partner that could offer (life plan community) industry expertise, advice and thoughtful financing options throughout the entire project. SunTrust was the perfect fit,” he said.
Those next steps would include renovating Cedarfield’s memory support area and adding 30 independent living apartments on the east side of the campus.
The architect is Roanoke-based SFCS, Inc. and the contractor is Winchester-based Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc., which also has offices in Richmond.
Source: Richmond Times Dispatch, by Greg Gilligan. Read the full article here.