Senior Lifestyle has had the pleasure of working with SAS Architects on three new communities and one significant expansion of an existing community over the past ten years. Each of these projects had different programmatic requirements and challenging site considerations. In each case, the SAS team provided creative design solutions as well as strong leadership from concept through completion of construction.
SAS has consistently fostered strong communication between their team, the owner, the owner’s consultants (interior design consultants and civil engineers), and contractors. Their coordination with all parties, from design and entitlements through construction administration, on each job has been impeccable. Through their past interactions with us, SAS has proven their ability to help guide projects through the various challenges of design, zoning, permitting, pricing, construction, and licensure. When we commission SAS for any project, we are confident they will be an effective partner at each stage of development.
SAS’s comprehensive understanding of how a building should function in a senior living environment, their creativity, and their collaborative design process are paramount to the success of our developments and our residents’ desire to call each of our communities “home.”
Senior Lifestyle and SAS recently completed a new purpose-built memory care addition to one of our existing communities, North Shore Place (Northbrook, IL). The building is designed around a light filled exterior courtyard, and all the apartments and common areas are filled with natural light. The week after our memory care residents were moved from the existing building to the new addition, I stopped by North Shore Place to see our memory care director, and was introduced to the wife of one of our memory care residents. The wife said that she had seen a positive change in her husband since moving into the new addition. She stated it is such a “happy building.” Her husband has a one bedroom apartment with a tall arched window which they both love. Noting it “felt like old times,” she glowed as she told me how they sat on the couch in his new apartment and held hands while watching TV on a recent evening.
I applaud SAS for designing beautiful buildings that are improving the lives of our residents. We couldn’t be more enthusiastic about stories like this!
— Nancy Cutter, Vice President of Development, Senior Lifestyle
SAS Architects was able to bring our vision into a reality! The SAS team was able to take our desire for a new level of construction and put it on paper. Their expertise was instrumental in passing the Zoning Board review to picking a GC and down to the small details of the brick and placement of TV’s in various interior spaces. We were able to stay within budget and keep our change order costs to a minimum due in large part to the Project Architect’s knowledge of the details and his ability to review and assist the GC with addressing any issues in real time. The knowledge SAS had of the process and regulations related to IDPH turned our approvals and inspections from The Department of Public Health into a manageable task, instead of a nightmare that never ends. I would recommend SAS for Health Care providers looking to build with confidence of a positive outcome.
With the Help of SAS Bria of Palos Hills Strive Unit is the Crown Jewel of our organization and will be a facility of the future for many years to come.
— Natan Weiss, Director, BRIA Health Services
I’ve had the pleasure of working with SAS on several successful projects over my time at Skender Construction. They are an expert in the assisted and supportive living markets, among others – their professionalism and attention to detail is best-in-class. My first experience with SAS was on the Church Street Station project in Hanover Park, IL. This was a challenging site and SAS’s experience and collaborative spirit proved invaluable in getting the best value for the client. Our experience on the North Shore Place Assisted Living project in Northbrook, IL was similarly enriching. Skender had high expectations for SAS coming into the project based on previous experience, and SAS, was up to the task. SAS’s daily involvement with the team produced a high-quality building and experience for all stakeholders. I especially appreciated the Project Architect’s “roll up his sleeves” mentality to solving problems. In a stereotypically “ego-driven” industry, SAS’s collaborative attitude was refreshing and was a key factor in the positive outcome. I would seek out opportunities to work with SAS again.
— Skender Construction
I have had the pleasure of working with SAS Architects & Planners for over 20 years. During this time, I have collaborated with their leadership, designers, project managers and associated team members. Their Leadership has always been hands on making sure that we have the appropriate team assigned and following up to confirm that our requirements are met. SAS’s organization is very comprehensive. Their entire staff has an immense knowledge base to achieve all of our planning, code, construction and clientele needs. Their designers have always maintained a high level of design within Allstate’s budgets. No matter the size of the project or requested commission they have always delivered top quality services.
— Jeff Schroeder, Senior Manager, Architecture & Construction, Allstate
Here at CORE, The Client Decides. We know that clients drive our economic engine, and without them, our engine dies. Having recently completed several projects with SAS Architects, I can say that they have demonstrated their unwavering commitment to collaboration and partnership repeatedly with us. They are creative and effective problem solvers and genuinely care about providing excellence to the client as much as we do.
— Scott Olthoff, President, CORE Construction Indiana
I recently had the pleasure of working with SAS Architects on a new senior living complex. In all instances, SAS was incredibly responsive when it came to providing detailed drawings and information to support the project. From a builder’s perspective, our success can often rely on the architect’s support & collaborative involvement. The SAS team is incredibly responsive. I consider SAS Architects to be one of the finest.
— John Taylor, Project Manager, CORE Construction Indiana
I want to take a few moments to share my appreciation and this letter of recommendation for a job very well done by SAS Architects. As you know, we recently completed the total renovation of our 555 W. Adams building. A comprehensive project that transformed all 10 floors of our building into a state of the art workplace that we are all very proud to call our corporate headquarters.
From the introductory, brainstorming meetings in the fall of 2012 to the project close celebration at the end 2016, SAS Architects & Planners was a true partner and a big reason for our collective success. You all did a great job delivering the project safely, efficiently and effectively. You delivered the program on time and on budget for each phase.
SAS is wonderful to work with, very creative, responsive and customer service focused. You delivered designs and solutions that created just the right environment for our financial technology services company. We have been able to attract and retain our targeted talent in a much more effective manner with our new space as a recruiting tool.
Your leadership and expertise was extremely valuable throughout. One of the highlights of my week for two plus years was our weekly construction meetings. I miss those meetings… Thank you to SAS for a job well done. You guys made us look good.
— Mark C. Johnson, Senior Vice President, TransUnion
King-Bruwaert House (KBH) has a long history of providing unsurpassed services and care to area seniors. The community, located in Burr Ridge, Illinois, consists of 35 beautifully wooded and landscaped acres with 58 independent living cottages and an 87-year-old, almost 159,000 square foot, Georgian Manor Home in which all assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care residents reside. This Manor Home also serves as the amenity and activity hub for the entire campus. Recently, KBH decided to accommodate its expanding waitlist and embark on a Campus Expansion Project – one that would add additional Independent Living Apartments and update the current skilled nursing and memory care services into small house communities.
After a thorough search, KBH chose SAS to partner in this expansion. Through discussion and informational meetings, KBH emphasized to SAS that it was very important that the new expansion buildings complement the existing structure. SAS was sensitive to the desire to maintain consistency with the original structure and design, going out of its way to research the history of KBH, its original architects and their body of work. SAS understood that KBH wanted this new building to look like it had always been there, but that it also includes state-of-the-art spaces and amenities for future and current residents to enjoy. In addition, SAS was familiar with the senior living industry which was a key factor when choosing a partner for this project.
SAS proved easy to work with; they took the time to get to know our building, our residents, and the surrounding community. They held resident meetings, presented ideas, and gathered feedback to be used in the overall design. While KBH had a wish list of things to be included in the new expansion, SAS helped KBH to focus and prioritize items that would have the greatest impact for the campus residents. Not only is SAS well organized, holding weekly and monthly meetings to discuss the progress of the project, but they also think creatively and pragmatically when solving problems in design and construction, always working to reconcile different elements of a problem. They were also instrumental in value engineering the project with us, the client, and our construction manager. Sensitive to the project objectives, both design and programmatic, SAS helped address potential reductions in cost. Overall, it has been an enlightening and exciting experience working with SAS, and the great partnership will ensure that the future project, both inside and out, will, in fact, be consistent with the existing original Georgian Manor design.
— Terri Bowen, CEO, King Bruwaert House