Vantage House, an age 60-plus life plan community in Downtown Columbia, has announced the details of its multi-million-dollar repositioning project currently underway on campus.
The announcement said that the project will align the physical building with the overall needs and desires of those living at Vantage House, including socialization, health, fitness and connectivity. In the more than 25 years that Vantage House has been in Howard County as a full-service community, with health services available if a resident should ever need them, the older adult generation has changed, and the building will reflect that.
“Vantage House is responding to the changing needs and desires of retirees today in offering choice, quality and convenience in the best city in the United States to live,” said Glen Tipton, lead architect on the project from Hord Coplan Macht.
In October 2016, Money Magazine put Columbia atop the best places in live in the country. The city is celebrating its 50th birthday, and a revitalization is underway in Downtown Columbia. It will result in additional amenities for residents of Vantage House who already utilize extensive cultural, recreational and educational opportunities nearby.
“Retirement is no longer a time of ‘not doing things,’” said Andrew Morgan, director of marketing at Vantage House. “It’s a time to refocus and reconnect with the things that matter and mean something to you. A time to continue making a difference in the community. We are working to help people discover their core passions and share their talents and gifts in a meaningful way. We encourage people to rethink retirement and aging.”
The repositioning will be completed within the already established square footage of Vantage House, transforming the community to meet the evolving needs of the next generation.
The renovations will emphasize a larger, more prominent first floor fitness center. Plans call for a Cyber Café on the ground floor of the building, a neighboring library and a classroom for the community’s many educational offerings. A small movie theater will be added as well for residents to enjoy screenings in a more intimate setting; on the second floor, the arts and crafts room will be transformed into an art studio and the billiards room will be renovated into an open game area.
The most apparent change in the building will be in the way that people may choose to eat. Gone are the days of large, cafeteria-like dining halls, and the traditional one-room setting is being replaced with separate dining options with different atmospheres and food types throughout the community.
Residents will be welcomed home by the Vantage House concierge upon entering the community. They can get caught up on email or social media in the Cyber Café on the first floor. The second floor café will be transformed into a pub-style venue, and the large dining room will be divided into two separate venues: a more formal dining destination and a relaxing bistro.
“Vantage House is designed around those who live here, not just physically, but with specialized lifestyle offerings. We want to be able to complement and fit their lifestyle and not force residents to fit into our lifestyle,” said Meriann Ritacco, executive director of Vantage House
“By listening to what current and future residents want, we are keeping ahead of industry trends while staying true to those who live at Vantage House.”
In addition to the main changes, small cosmetic renovations will take place to update the property and make the exterior entrance more directly represent the innovative interior.
The Hord Coplan Macht-designed renovations will be completed with development consultant Greenbrier Development, of Dallas, and contractor The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., of Baltimore.
For further information, call 410-992-1241 or visit vantagehouse.org.