DiMella Shaffer - Senior Living Profile and Project Overview

SENIOR LIVING

North Hill

DiMella Shaffer is a nationally recognized award-winning architectural planning and design firm based in Boston with a talented staff of 70+ Architects, Planners, and Interior Designers. Following a pragmatic approach, we focus on teamwork, strong management, and innovative thinking to ensure our planning and design vision meets each client’s needs, goals and budget.

With over 30 years of experience designing award-winning specialized communities, our work spans the spectrum of project types.

In both urban and rural settings, we have designed communities with independent living, assisted living, supportive environments for people needing special care and those that need long term care. As your design partner, we will: Provide insight into innovative trends in the senior living industry.

Offer creative solutions for solving common senior living facility shortcomings.

Identify strategies for refreshing new aesthetics without diminishing overall architectural integrity.

Envision senior living environments through the eyes of current and potential future residents.

REAL PEOPLE. REAL EXPECTATIONS. We are a team of passionate architects, designers, and planners delivering creative solutions, together.

Everyone who works at DiMella Shaffer — from the newest project assistant to the founders — plays a critical role in our creative community, and makes a susbstantive commitment to our collective achievements. Just as every aspect of the buildings we design has a specific purpose — and contributes to a harmonious whole — each of our employees has a unique voice and talent that help us excel.

established in 1965

70+ employees

43% of staff have

been with the firm for 10+ years

SERVICES Architecture

Planning

Successful buildings make eloquent, enduring statements.

They reflect the client’s vision, a commitment to environmental stewardship, and the day-to-day needs of the individuals who live, learn and work in them. Our success reflects the vision of our clients, the talents of our team and our commitment to exceeding expectations.

Planning is a critical component of successful building projects. We integrate place, programming and planning to create environments that balance client goals and community needs. Our process of analysis, engagement and synthesis results in innovative, viable master plans, site development and programming.

Interior Design

Interiors express identity, character and vision. We are highly attuned to the impact of materials, colors, textures and lighting on how we live and work. Our holistic, comprehensive approach ensures that the spaces where people spend time are of outstanding quality and lasting value.

Sustainability

Thoughtfully designed buildings respect the environment and enhance the lives of those who work and dwell within them.

Our projects are conceived and constructed using the most advanced technologies, techniques and materials, resulting in buildings that serve our clients and the environment well—on the first day of occupancy and well into the future.

Delivery Expertise

Specialties

ARCHITECT LED DESIGN-BUILD

NEW CONSTRUCTION

DESIGN-BUILD

RENOVATION

DESIGN-BID-BUILD

ADAPTIVE RE-USE

CM-AT-RISK

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

PUBLIC BID 149 AND 149A

PASSIVE HOUSE LEED WELL

SENIOR LIVING

WORKPLACE

SCIENCE + TECH

RESIDENTIAL

ACADEMIC

SENIOR LIVING TEAM

As innovators in the design of senior communities, we bring more than 30 years of experience in seniors’ evolving needs.

21st-century seniors desiring active, independent lives have high expectations and discerning tastes. In urban or rural settings, we design independent living, assisted living, and supportive environments for seniors needing special care long-term care. Our design approach is simultaneously experiential and contextual: we engage with residents, owners, staff, and family members to design and celebrate innovative solutions to create homes for seniors to live with dignity and joy.

Kathy LaDuca

Diane Dooley

Jovi Cruces

DIANE DOOLEY, AIA / LEED AP Principal

Diane Dooley, a Principal of the firm, has over three decades of experience in a wide range of building types, with particular expertise in residential and senior living design. Her portfolio includes continuing care retirement communities, assisted living facilities, and associated healthcare facilities.

She is skilled at all phases of master planning and design and has been recognized by the AIA, LeadingAge, Environments for Aging, and locally by the Boston Society for Architects.

PHILIPPE SAAD, AIA / LEED AP Associate Principal

Philippe Saad is an Associate Principal of the firm and has over 15 years of architectural experience contributing to a wide variety of projects focused on community design. He has worked on all phases of the architectural process including master planning, design development, construction management and contract administration. Both an advocate and proponent of quality community housing, Philippe’s recent experience has focused on both affordable and senior housing throughout New England.

Philippe Saad

Cassandra Michaud

JOVI CRUCES Senior Associate

Jovi Cruces has over 25 years of architectural experience contributing to a wide variety of projects, including work in senior housing, multi-family housing, urban high-rises, educational facilities and hospitality design. Using both hand-drawn sketches and computer-generated models, Jovi leads clients through complicated design processes and strives to produce collaborative design solutions.

KATHY LADUCA, NCDIQ / LEED AP Senior Associate + Director of Residential Interiors

Kathy LaDuca has produced award-winning interior spaces during her 25-year tenure at DiMella Shaffer. Working as an integral part of the team, Kathy acts as a liaison between the architectural team, client and contractor to ensure a successful end product that reflects the client’s vision and budget as well as DiMella Shaffer’s standards. Conceptualization, selection, and documentation of the interior elements of successful interior spaces receive careful attention, as well as the selection and installation of furniture, artwork and accessories.

CASSANDRA MICHAUD, NCDIQ Interior Designer

Cassandra Michaud has been a member of the interior design team at DiMella Shaffer since 2015.

Since joining, she has worked on several interior projects across our senior living, residential, and workplace sectors. Most recently, Cassandra has worked with senior living clients in the Greater Boston Area, such as Hebrew SeniorLife, across a variety of renovations and new construction from residential units, common spaces, dining, and others.

EQUITY AT WORK Growing an equitable firm does not happen overnight and is not a switch that can be just flipped on. Since its foundation, the firm has been cultivating a workforce that values inclusivity and nurtures people’s advancement. We believe that when an employee succeeds, the firm succeeds. We are actively seeking a diverse workforce emphasizing the importance of tolerance, open-mindedness and the support of one another. This culture of acceptance is well ingrained in our office and has been a major deciding factor in hiring and maintaining outstanding talent.

Our yearly anonymous 360 review process allows us to listen to all our employees and improve our practice. We welcome talent from all races, ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations and we strive to provide them with an equitable work environment where each can thrive.

We believe diversity drives innovation, and actively work to build a culture where difference is valued. We take a holistic approach, and celebrate multiple points of view. We’re always growing our network of people, programs and tools all designed to help employees grow and manage their careers. We take pride that within our office, our workforce represents 10 different countries, and speaks a dozen languages. Our internal mentorship program is devised to aid and assist advancement of all within the firm.

DIVERSITY IN OUR PROJECTS

Design for New England’s first LGBTQ senior housing, by the adaptive-reuse of the former William Barton Rogers School in Boston, MA where we are working with MikYoung Kim, Landscape Architecture

Designing projects in five market sectors gives us a unique opportunity to tackle a variety of projects that highlight our commitment to making the world more beautiful, functional and sustainable. From high-end luxury to affordable housing to $1,000/ SF laboratories to office towers, we have designed places and spaces for all generations and all walks of life to live their best lives. Exemplifying this diversity of work, DiMella Shaffer recently began work on the first LGBTQ-friendly affordable senior housing project in New England. This was a decade long project pursuit recognizing the need for inclusive affordable senior housing that is just coming to fruition through strong community partnerships and close work with the City of Boston. Converting the former William Barton Rogers middle school in Hyde Park into 75 units of senior housing and create a hub in Hyde Park that features programming for residents and community members which celebrates inclusivity and Hyde Park’s rich and diverse history.

WOMEN IN DESIGN Within our office, our employees are encouraged to participate in many working groups. One is our Women in Design group, which is organized to provide a social and networking opportunity for women in our firm and industry at large. The group is comprised of women of all experience levels with the goal of promoting ideas, building community and strengthening the women’s voices within our firm. The Women in Design group regularly invites key women in the A/E/C industry to present and discuss their challenges and opportunities within their own companies, as well as notable female figures outside of our industry to glean experiences and successes from them.

Tockwotton on the Waterfront

NOTABLE PROJECTS

BENFIELD FARMS Neighborhood of Affordable Housing

Affordable senior community nestled in suburban countryside location Carlisle, MA scope New Construction size 26,000 sf units 26 Affordable + Independent Living

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HARMON APARTMENTS The Boston Home + Affirmative Investments

Transit-oriented development creates urban housing location Dorchester, MA scope New Construction size 42,000 sf units 36 Independent Living

J. FARRIS RECOVERY CENTER Spectrum Health Systems

Household model + views to tranquil exterior support recovery center programs location Westborough, MA scope New Construction size 272,603 sf beds 100 Specialized, Household Model

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TOCKWOTTON ON THE WATERFRONT Tockwotton Home

Household model takes advantage of waterfront location location Providence, RI scope New Construction size 138,000 sf units 73 Assisted Living 31 Memory Support 52 Skilled Nursing

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THE LEGACY AT WILLOW BEND Legacy Senior Communities, Inc.

Uncompromising quality at all levels of care location Plano, TX scope New Construction size 404,000 sf units 40 Assisted Living 18 Memory Support 60 Skilled Nursing 103 Independent Living 12 Independent Living Villas

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LEONARD FLORENCE CENTER FOR LIVING Chelsea Jewish Lifecare

a new standard of care within an urban environment location Chelsea, MA scope New Construction size 94,442 sf units 100 Skilled Nursing, Greenhouse Model

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SHILLMAN HOUSE 2Life Communities

Affordable senior community creates transition from city center to neighborhood location Framingham, MA scope New Construction size 151,000 sf units 150 Affordable Rental

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NEW COMMONS + HEALTHCARE CENTER Armed Forces Retirement Home

Capturing the Washington D.C. skyline location Washington, DC scope New Construction size 160,000 sf units 24 Memory Support 36 Long-Term Care

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FOX HILL Sunrise Development

Unmatched luxury in the greater Washington D.C. suburbs location Bethesda, MD scope New Construction size 700,000 sf units 323 Independent Living, Assisted Living, + Memory Care

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THE AVERY WING North Hill

Progressive, modern campus entry sequence created through addition location Needham. MA scope New Construction Addition size 99,500 sf units 45 Independant Living

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FULLER VILLAGE

Milton Fuller Housing Corporation

Thriving community nestled in nature location Milton, MA scope New Construction size 375,000 sf units 209 Independent Living 54 Detached Villas

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BROOKHAVEN AT LEXINGTON Brookhaven

Captivating the discerning resident location Lexington, MA scope New Construction Repositioning size 175,600 sf units 246 Independent Living 20 Assisted Living 49 Skilled Nursing

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BROOKHAVEN AT LEXINGTON EXPANSION Brookhaven

Expansion and repositioning to meet growing demand location Lexington, MA scope New Construction Addition, Repositioning, + Renovation size 232,600 sf units 49 Independent Living 30 Assisted Care

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MYSTIC WATERWORKS AT CAPEN COURT Somerville Community Corporation

Historic water pump station gets new life location Somerville, MA scope Historic Adaptive Reuse size 55,600 sf units 25 Independent Living

KENDAL ON HUDSON The Kendal Corporation

“Project Renew” refreshes community location Sleepy Hollow, NY scope Renovation + Addition size 68,000 sf units 13-bed memory support unit 28 bed skilled nursing 34 assisted living

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ORCHARD COVE Hebrew Senior Life

Design to thrive: Vitalize 360 breathes new life into community location Canton, MA scope Repositioning, Interior Master Planning. + Renovation size 38,686 sf

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ORCHARD COVE ENHANCED LIVING Hebrew Senior Life

Assited living as destination location Canton, MA scope Renovation size 4,500 sf

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KATZMAN FAMILY CENTER FOR LIVING Chelsea Jewish Lifecare

Challenging the traditional nursing home model location Chelsea, MA scope Renovation size 50,000 sf beds 53 Skilled Nursing, Household Model

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SITKOWSKI APARTMENTS Neighborhood of Affordable Housing

Historic school becomes mixed-income senior housing and community center location Webster, MA scope Renovation + Adaptive Reuse size 85,000 sf units 66 Independent Living

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BERENSON-ALLEN BUILDING Hebrew Senior Life

Conversion of a traditional long term care facility to a Household Model location Boston, MA scope Renovation + Repositioning size 26,000 sf units 46 Chronic Care Hospital Beds

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THE BALDWIN AT WOODMONT COMMONS Edgewood Retirement Community

A walkable senior community integrated between urban and nature location Londonderry, NH scope New Construction size 350,000 sf units 250 Independent Living 40 Assisted Living Memory Support

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WILLIAM BARTON ROGERS SCHOOL Pennrose + LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc.

New England’s first LGBTQ-friendly mixedincome senior housing community location Hyde Park, MA scope Adaptive Reuse size 110,000 sf units 75 Independent Living

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THE DELANEY AT THE VALE LCS Development

Adding our expertise to further develop The Delaney model location Woburn, MA scope New Construction size 275,000 sf units 103 Independent Living 84 Assisted Living 36 Memory Care

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24 FARNSWORTH STREET 4TH FLOOR BOSTON, MA 02210 DIMELLASHAFFER.COM