VILLAGE AT THE HARBOUR

Project Description

Client: Village at the Harbour
Location: Friday Harbor, Washington
Project Size: 28,360 sf
Architect: Fisher Design | Build
Facility Type: Assisted Living

Creative Thinking Balances a Unique Site

Stringent Codes to Create a Warm Inviting Environment

This design/build project is a true collaboration. Balancing customer needs and desires with a difficult site and very specific health regulations for elderly housing.

The design team was challenged to create a facility without level changes, on a sloping site with a rock outcropping on the north end. The building footprint fits tightly on the site. The east and west wings create a private, wind protected courtyard with a southern exposure.

The site’s characteristics required an innovative solution for handling ground water. To handle run off, the engineering and design team created an underground water retention vault beneath the courtyard. In effect, doubling the use of the limited space.

The team worked closely with the owners throughout the entire process. Especially careful to meet stringent state codes for housing the fragile elderly. Details as specific as door handles and landscape plant types needed to be considered in relationship to the end use. While the environment is warm and inviting, every room is equipped with the most advanced systems needed for assisted care.

The 36-unit facility is undoubtedly the first of its kind on San Juan Island. Including a commercial kitchen and laundry, dining room, beauty salon, workout room and library. Vertical grain fir trim appointments throughout the library, dining and lobby areas were designed to give the public spaces a Northwest warmth.