The Views at Marion is first WELL-certified assisted living complex in United States

Marion, Iowa, has a WELL-certified senior living center that features three areas – 40-bed skilled nursing facility, 30 assisted living apartments and memory care center with 34 apartments. The Views hired Fehr Graham to design the site and subdivision to comply with the WELL building standards, creating the first WELL-certified assisted living complex in the United States.

The three-page WELL building standards manual covers 102 specifications on subjects such as fitness, lighting, nourishment, comfort, mind, water and air. To be a WELL-certified building, the facility must meet standards for all these categories. Because of the lengthy certification process, there are only 32 buildings across 11 states that are certified, and the certification must be re-evaluated every three years.

Our engineers considered a standard detention pond to hold stormwater, but we determined there was not enough space for that approach. Instead we used permeable pavers, rain gardens and a smaller detention pond, saving the company money by reducing the amount of storm sewer piping, excavation and grading. The team also designed a fire access lane around the buildings that doubles as a walking path, giving the facility a more aesthetically pleasing look while providing functionality. The facility opened in 2019.

AT A GLANCE
» Developed design.
» Prepared preliminary landscape plan.
» Provided construction documents.