Beacon Hill at Eastgate continues to add programs and opportunities for residents for on-campus activities. The most recent is the reopening of the Vista Lounge. This room was previously barely used, and only populated with chairs, tables, wallcoverings, and art.  

 We are happy to report that on opening day, the lounge was filled with people. Why? Because now: 

• It is a fully furnished game room, with electronic arcade games (Pac-Man and James Bond), fully appointed poker table, game tables (with embedded checkers and chess boards), nine-foot professional shuffleboard table, and a real dart board.  

• The room has a built-in hospitality area so drinks and food can be catered for events. 

• The space can be rented for groups and celebrations. 

• The interior was completely changed and upgraded for a “four-star” experience. 

r.o.i. Design started to conceive the space with Beacon Hill leadership in the fall of 2023. As part of the process, r.o.i looked at competitive properties and their game rooms. We found that most of them had dining rooms with the opportunity to play games. Beacon Hill didn’t want an apologetic space, but a space worthy of the quality and lifestyle of the people who lived there. 

The design included new finishes for all the space: 

• Walnut wood parquet wall 

• Brushed gold lighting 

• Luxuriously upholstered lounge seating 

• Lighting the existing beams with indirect LED lighting 

• Painted moldings and architectural panels in a luscious deep brown 

• Modular carpet that is unlike the printed carpets throughout the common areas at Beacon Hill 

For more information about the fine living at Beacon Hill, chick here. 

Click on the thumbnails below to enlarge images.

 For more of our multifamily & senior living projects click here. 

There has been a change in how we think about senior living over the past 10 years. The aging baby boomer generation is influencing this change. It’s predicted that in the next several years there will be more people over 65 than children. As the baby boomers age, more and more are looking to make the move to a senior living community. This group of people is more active than in past generations and holds greater expectations of their living experience.  Because they are planning ahead, the process of selecting their retirement community is more well thought out and thorough. Research has shown that up to 5 communities will be visited before making the final decision. Their new home must check all the boxes. Updated furniture and finishes can ensure a good first impression is made and boost the marketability of any community, whether it’s a new construction or an established facility.

The following should be considered when designing a senior living community:  

• Finishes should look like home, incorporating residential-type finishes with senior living durability. Vibrant, fresh, approachable spaces that bring people together and foster a sense of community. 
• Flexible gathering areas that draw residents from their rooms and can accommodate larger groups when necessary. Spots for crafts, games, and other activities that promote socialization are amenities today’s seniors are looking for. A sense of community ranks highly with today’s seniors. Chairs that can stack and tables for crafts and puzzles that fold for storage enhance the flexibility and function.  
• Connection to the outdoors. Natural light, plants, and large-scale artwork that depicts views of nature foster that important connection with nature for residents who aren’t able to get out as easily. 
• Wellness-focused spaces promoting engagement and activity.   
• The formal dining room is being revamped to add flexibility, better serving the needs of the residents. A more modern dining space provides a place to gather with friends for a cup of coffee or a casual chat. This area has become the social hub, and those social connections are crucial to maintaining cognitive function and overall well-being.  
• Staff attraction and retention is an important consideration as well. Providing a comfortable place for staff to work, and as a recharge, should be planned for. 

This four-year project in Chantilly, Virginia was a partnership with Hooker DeJong Architects and Engineers and Eagle Point Companies. Forest Glen was completed in the spring of 2021. Six years ago, we had designed this property as a remodel, but a fire destroyed the original building, and the project needed to be rebuilt. 

Keeping with much of the original concept, r.o.i. Design was able to enhance many aspects of the communal areas to include more wood, stone, and some decorative acrylic panels. Wallcovering in the corridor, while helping with maintenance, also helps create a more resort-like feel. In general, the new building offers many amenities to tenants that the original building could not. 

Eagle Point engaged us to also provide public area furnishings. We selected furniture, customized finishes, purchased the products, and then managed delivery and installation. We also provided custom artwork that was reflective of the area. Located close to Washington D.C. and many historical sites in Virginia, we used images of historic buildings, national landmarks, and regional nature to help give Forest Glen its sense of place. 

Thank you to Jason Barnes of Eagle Point for the opportunity to help rebuild Forest Glen. 

© All Photos Courtesy of Eagle Point Companies.