project story
Penick Village is a life plan community adjacent to the Weymouth Nature Preserve in Southern Pines. A ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, Penick Village is dedicated to a philosophy of “deinstitutionalizing” the aging experience and being a good steward of the environment.
Working closely with the board, staff, and residents, as well as market research and financial feasibility consultants, CJMW developed a master plan for the community’s expansion. As part of the planning process, the CJMW design team studied the architecture of the surrounding area – predominantly the American Craftsman style – to help develop a visual identity for Penick Village that would feel natural to its setting.
The first project phase included 25 independent living cottages and the Garden Cottage, an Assisted Living facility. CJMW and Penick Village worked closely with the N.C. Department of Health Services Regulation to provide a high level of safety for residents without the traditional “institutional” features. Designed as a “real home” setting, the Cottage provides care for residents in 10 single bedrooms (each with a bathroom) that are ample enough in size to accommodate the residents’ choice of furnishings, books and art work. The shared kitchen, living room, dining room and patio are in an open floor plan and visible from most resident rooms’ entry doors.
The first of six planned cottages, the Garden Cottage is the first assisted living facility certified under the new LEED for Homes standard in N.C. and possibly in the nation. Its design has received national recognition from SAGE, Leading Age, and the AIA, among others. In a survey a year after its opening, staff, administration and residents reported improvement in residents’ physical and mental health.
The next phase of the master plan included the Village House, a community center, and The Woodlands, a new 69-unit independent living apartment building. Both buildings are LEED certified.
The Village House is the heart of the campus. Sited directly on axis with the main entry, its central clerestory and porte-cochere show its importance as a community hub. Gathering spaces include a non-denominational, multi-use chapel, dining rooms, a library, card and billiard rooms, and other activity spaces. The building also houses the Penick Village administrative offices.
The Craftsman exterior is carried into the interior of the Village House and The Woodlands common areas, creating a rich, warm feeling and sense of continuity. Walnut wood finishes and muted tones make quiet common rooms cozy, while brighter tones enliven dining areas and other active spaces.
The Woodlands offers six different apartment plans for one- and two-bedroom apartments, ranging from approximately 850 to 2,000 square feet.
Location: Southern Pines, North Carolina
Square footage: 175,000
Services: master planning, architecture, interior design, ffe