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On a beautiful late summer evening last August Trumbull-Nelson’s Ron Bauer and Steve Usle joined leaders of the administration and the board of directors of Alice Peck Day Health Systems to break ground for the Woodlands at Harvest Hill. Next spring, the first residents will move in to the new home that’s been called “New England’s next great retirement community.”
As Construction Manager, Trumbull-Nelson’s primary role is to bring the vision to life. The building itself is one of the larger construction projects of its type in the Upper Valley area. When finished, it will encompass 167,230 square feet of interior space including an underground garage. A total of 66 apartments range from 789 square feet to 2,200 square feet in size.
“The Woodlands represents a vital next step in our commitment to serve the evolving needs of seniors in our community.”
Situated on a verdant and wooded hillside that overlooks the Alice Peck Day Campus, the town of Lebanon, and the rolling hills of Central New Hampshire, the Woodlands takes full advantage of its natural setting. Yet it is conveniently situated close to the city center of Lebanon, and within 10 minutes of Dartmouth College and numerous small New England towns.
“The Woodlands represents a vital next step in our commitment to serve the evolving needs of seniors in our community,” said Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital President Harry Dorman. “When we opened Harvest Hill in 1996, we strove to set a new standard for quality of care, services, and lifestyle. As our reputation grew, so did our waiting list, and for the past five years it has been clear that there was a much greater demand than our current facility could fulfill.”
“As our reputation grew, so did our waiting list, and for the past five years it has been clear that there was a much greater demand than our current facility could fulfill.”
Alice Peck Day’s administration and board members decided the time had come to address the need. “We started by convening a focus group of people on the waiting list for Harvest Hill and asking them what they wanted in their next residence,” said Rolande “Ron” Andrews, the administrator for Harvest Hill and the Woodlands. “They knew what the various retirement communities in the area had to offer, and none of them quite fit their needs. Many were ready to downsize, but still wanted a larger amount of residential space and more amenities than most senior living developments offered. They wanted gracious accommodations in a comfortable and convenient setting, with support in place to give them peace of mind as well as the ability to make choices about their own care. The Woodlands is a realization of their vision.”
To meet this challenge, Alice Peck Day turned first to UK Architects of Hanover. “In designing the Woodlands, we kept in mind what the future residents told us they wanted, as well as ways that we could improve how the residents would live and interact,” said Chris Kennedy of UK Architects. “We were extremely fortunate in that the Woodlands started with a wonderful location in a forest that once surrounded a farm and pasture. In creating a building that would fit seamlessly into the setting, we looked for ways to protect that unique environment for future generations and to contribute to the Woodlands community’s sense of character.”
“We kept in mind what the future residents told us they wanted, as well as ways that we could improve how the residents would live and interact.”
While there are 12 different choices for floor plans, in fact the range of options are even greater as residents can choose from a variety of “upgrades” that customize the apartment to fit their personal preferences. “This is an area where ongoing communication with Dave Harrison from Trumbull-Nelson has been really important,” said The Woodlands’ Ron Andrews. “It really is a wonderful opportunity for people to move into an apartment they feel is designed just for them, but it wouldn’t be possible without the help from Dave and the Trumbull-Nelson team.”
To further enhance the site and allow people to take full advantage of the Woodlands’ beautiful surroundings, they brought in two-time Olympian John Morton, the head of Morton Trails to develop a system of walking trails through the woods surrounding the campus. Morton has developed a broad range of trail systems in over 100 locations, nationally and internationally, and was excited to have the opportunity to contribute the Woodlands. “According to multiple studies conducted by the National Association of Realtors and the National Association of Homebuilders, trails have been ranked as either the first or second most important community amenity when potential buyers, especially those 55 and older, consider where to purchase a home,” said Morton. “For people in The Woodlands’ age demographic to have direct access to trails, right out their back door, makes the resource even more valuable.”
“This summer, I’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that I’ve been hearing from people regarding the project.”
While construction enters the home stretch, the new community is already taking shape. “This summer, I’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that I’ve been hearing from people regarding the project, and almost all of the largest apartments have been reserved,” said Andrews. “It’s a wonderful and amazing group of people who have already decided to make the Woodlands their home. As I look toward to the next stages, the construction and development of the community itself, I am extremely excited to see how these great people shape what the Woodlands will become.”
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