Oak Trace Phase II – Independent Living Building & Commons Downers Grove, Illinois
The second phase of the master plan expansion project includes the addition of 140 Independent Living apartments and a 1-story Commons building. The Commons building is situated between the phase I Healthcare Center and the existing Independent Living building to provide the necessary connectivity on the first and lower levels while adding some new amenities to the community. The centrally located Commons building features a robust new dining venue, market, café, fitness center, pool, spa, multi-purpose room and a new main entrance. The new building is positioned between all levels of care to facilitate the connectivity while breaking down the “us versus them” dynamic often found in Senior Living Communities. The massing of this phase creates two separated communal courtyards, each with their own unique character and theme. The public courtyard is at the heart of the community and features outdoor dining, accessible walkways and an outdoor event space. The West courtyard, located between the two new 5-story apartment towers features different thematic nodes connected by accessible walkways offering a variety of outdoor amenities such as a prairie & sensory gardens, outdoor dining, and a shade garden. The landscape was carefully designed to offer enhanced views from all apartments and commons and providing opportunities to surprise and delight the residents and their families.
The commons building is designed in an “upscale casual” style that is rooted in Classicism, mixing some contemporary details with modern and clean design elements. The building features underground parking with a 1:1 parking ratio and some additional back of house spaces. This phase of work also includes the renovation of the common spaces in the existing IL building to bring continuity across different cozier spaces and grand experiences to resident life.