Cedars Community Hospice - R3A Architecture

Cedars Community Hospice is located adjacent to the existing Cedars Assisted Living Community. The 25,550 square foot, three story building will serve up to 16 terminally ill clients and their families. The goal of the project is to provide the patients and families with a serene and peaceful facility. Cedars provides many amenities to the patients, families, visitors, and the community.

There are 16 private “patient suites” all with home like features and finishes to eliminate the clinical and sterile feeling of a hospital. These features include dinette tables, residential style furniture for hospital beds and endtables, flatscreen TVs and a private bathroom in each suite. Each room has large windows and attractive views to help comfort patients and their families.

There are numerous family areas including a chapel, TV room, children’s play area, massage room and sauna, kitchen and dining area for families as well as a community yoga studio and an employee lounge.

The use of natural finishes such as wood, stone and deep colors adds to the calming spa-like atmosphere to help reduce patients’ and visitors’ stress levels due to the sensitive nature of this type of facility.

Completion Date

2010

Location

Monroeville, PA

Size

25,550 sf.

Sustainability

LEEDv2.2 NC Gold

Landscaping on the site uses native and adaptive vegetation to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation systems. An irrigation system was employed but it was designed to reduce potable water usage by at least 80%. Within the building low-flow fixtures and waterless urinals are used to reduce water use. The facility uses 42% less water than a building compliant with the Energy Policy act of 1992.

As construction waste is one the of biggest items to fill up landfills, special attention was paid to recycling as much of it as possible. Over 75% of the construction waste was diverted from the waste stream and sent for recycling. To minimize the impact on natural resources, materials were specified that contained recycled content, were sourced & manufactured regionally, or were of rapidly renewable materials. Items that contributed to sustainability were porcelain tiles, concrete, gypsum wall board, bamboo flooring, insulation, steel, carpeting, and many other environmentally friendly products & finishes.