Strategic Vision and Planning

The Mayflower needed to address its aging facilities, a dysfunctional assisted living building, and a dated skilled nursing center to meet resident expectations and reflect current market trends. The first step was to create a master plan with the SFCS team that prioritized community revitalizing solutions.

This planning and collaboration meant the team could swiftly adjust the strategy when adjacent land unexpectedly became available. The additional acreage was incorporated with a phased development approach focused on immediate needs.

The Waterside Homes: Independent Living Transformation

The Waterside Homes development features 50 luxury independent living residences arranged in five hybrid apartment buildings surrounding a picturesque pond. Each structure houses ten units across three floors with covered parking on the ground level. The residences include:

• Two or three-bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,500 to 2,200 square feet

• Open-concept designs connecting living, dining, and kitchen spaces

• Generous balconies overlooking water features

• Secure, climate-controlled communal lobbies

• Golf cart parking and electric vehicle charging stations

This programming created a community-integrated senior living model that enhances residents' quality of life, addresses their expectations, and eases the transition from decades in a single-family home to apartment living.

Resident Care Building: Person-Centered Healthcare Design

The four-story Resident Care Building represents the project's innovation in wellness-focused community design. It consolidates:

• 40 skilled nursing units

• 20 short-term rehabilitation units

• 24 assisted living and memory care units

Each floor features two 10- or 12-unit households with spacious, open living rooms and shared dining areas. The short-term rehabilitation floors offer a hospitality-inspired approach, with upscale dining and living spaces that support residents' eventual return home.

The design team implemented numerous features to support memory care residents through environment design:

• Access to a secure memory care garden with views of the water from resident rooms

• Motion-triggered amber lighting in resident rooms to maintain natural circadian rhythms

• Enhanced accessibility with additional clearance in resident spaces

• Specialized grab bars to facilitate caregiver assistance

• Appliances in household kitchens that resembled residential models

• Strategically placed gathering spaces to promote social engagement

The Clubhouse: Connecting Communities

The Clubhouse serves as the literal and metaphorical bridge between existing and new sections of The Mayflower campus. This waterfront venue offers upscale dining and activity options to all residents, featuring:

• A display kitchen where residents can watch meal preparation as well as participate in culinary programming

• Bar/lounge area connected to a game room and cinema, perfect for watching the big game, playing pool together, or hosting a private event

• The main dining room that opens to a covered patio through folding glass panels enabling a seamless connection to the outdoors

This multi-purpose space creates opportunities for social interaction and integration across all levels of the continuum of care in the community, a specific goal for The Mayflower leadership.

Sustainable Design & Community Integration

Throughout the development process, the design team demonstrated commitment to sustainable senior housing solutions and community integration:

• Studying the architectural vernacular of Winter Park to create a cohesive design language

• Reducing impervious surface area and duplicative mechanical systems

• Selecting attractive, long-lasting, and easy-to-maintain materials

• Utilizing regional construction methods for efficiency and economy

Outcomes: Future-proofing for Long-Term Success

The Mayflower project successfully addresses the organization's immediate and long-term needs. By integrating wellness-focused amenities, creating flexible multi-purpose spaces, and enhancing safety features, the redesigned campus offers:

• Enhanced resident experience with access to nature and social opportunities

• Better positioning in a competitive market with sophisticated new offerings

• Sustainable solutions for long-term operational savings

• Seamless integration within both The Mayflower community and the greater Winter Park community

This comprehensive approach to repositioning has transformed The Mayflower into a forward-thinking senior living community prepared to meet the changing needs of current and future residents.

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