Amazing Place, a memory care day center for those with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s or related dementia designed by Houston-based Studio RED Architects, has been awarded the prestigious LEED Silver Green Building Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the first senior care center in Houston to have earned this award. Studio RED designed the 13,800 square building to support the therapeutic programs and activities for participants as well as families and caregivers while adding many sustainable features. The facility, which opened May, 2010, triples the size of the previous facility (formerly The Seniors Place) to serve up to 135 participants and their families per week.
According to Kristi Byers, AIA, LEED-AP, Studio RED Architects’ Director of Sustainability “The Amazing Place leadership and staff’s strong goals for creating a healthy environment for participants with clean indoor air quality and outdoor healing spaces aligned beautifully with the USGBC LEED program. In addition, we designed a building which saves water and power and reduces the building’s impact on the earth-a beneficial approach for participants, staff and our environment.”
The Studio RED-led team achieved credits towards LEED Silver Certification for Amazing Place by selecting a previously developed, urban location; choosing roof and site materials which reduced the project’s heat island effect; installing water-saving landscape, irrigation and plumbing fixtures; selecting energy efficient mechanical systems and lighting; controlling site pollution and diverting waste during construction; creating clean indoor air quality which maximizes human comfort and by establishing green cleaning and integrated pest management protocols. Additional sustainable attributes include a vegetated roof, reclaimed brick, a water-collecting rain chain fountain, and window tinting to reduce glare and reduce participants’ vision issues.
Tracey Brown, Amazing Place Executive Director said, “The facility was designed to not only be inviting, engaging and therapeutic for the participants, but is also doing its part to maintain a healthy environment.”
Founded in 2005, Studio RED has designed a wide range of public, worship, retail, education and theater projects including City of Houston Central Permitting Office and Green Resource Center, Lakewood Church, Brennan’s Restaurant, Fellowship of the Woodlands, University of Houston Clear Lake at Pearland, Beaumont Event Center and Houston Baptist University Cultural Arts Center.
