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As life expectancy rises, the need to design for aging populations becomes increasingly apparent. This need is made even more acute as more households come to depend on two adult income-earners, leaving fewer people able to care for aging family members. Hayes Barton Place, a new Life Plan Community, offers a glimpse into how planners and engineers are designing more options for older individuals.
Envisioned by Liberty Senior Living, Hayes Barton Place will occupy a picturesque site nestled in the middle of Hayes Barton neighborhood, just a short walk from shops and restaurants.
What is Hayes Barton Place?
Hayes Barton Place consists of 214 residences in two main buildings:
- An independent living community
- A memory care assisted living community.
Liberty Senior Living chose the Oberlin Road location and a Georgian style. They wanted to create a classy retirement community that fits well with the historic neighborhood around it. Hayes Barton residents transitioning from private homes to a vibrant continuing care environment feel at home in their new one-, two-, or three-bedroom residence.
As Liberty’s planning consultant, WithersRavenel has focused on weaving together outdoor spaces, landscaping, and programming to attract and engage residents at a variety of activity and mobility levels.
What are some features at Hayes Barton?
Athletic types will have access to pickleball, bocce, and a putting green, while those with a green thumb can tend to the rooftop garden.
Pet owners and animal lovers will rejoice: Hayes Barton allows some pets, and residents will not need to part from their four-legged companions. Open space will be provided for pet exercise.
Outdoor courtyards, a restaurant, a patio with bar, a fire pit, and a grilling station provide focal points for informal gatherings and socializing.
These amenities are aimed at encouraging everyone to take an active role in the community. By giving residents choices, Liberty hopes to foster new relationships, promote memory-making, and prevent the loneliness that can set in when retirees leave their established social circles and routines.
Safety for aging adults
In addition, many of the design and material choices reflect the physical needs of aging adults. For example, wide, smooth pathways throughout the site improve mobility. Some paths are eight feet wide. This gives walkers enough space to pass each other easily. They do not need to turn aside or step onto a less stable surface.
A combination of landscaping and shade structures will protect residents from the elements as the seasons change. Trees and overhangs provide shade from the summer heat. They are balanced with sunny spots to attract people outside on cooler fall and winter days.
Landscaping also helps to provide a buffer between Hayes Barton Place and a busy public street.
The memory care units have restricted access to outdoor spaces to protect vulnerable residents.
Including all these design ideas was a welcome challenge. The site is only about seven acres and is surrounded by a fully developed neighborhood. WithersRavenel proposed the installation of a large retaining wall close to a property line and an underground stormwater solution. This would help maximize the available space and allow room for substantial buildings and the expansive amenities list.
What was WithersRavenel’s role in developing Hayes Barton Place?
WithersRavenel offered civil engineering, surveying, stormwater, and landscape architecture services. This helped Liberty Senior Living achieve a strong vision for senior living. To help stakeholders visualize the community, we created a highly detailed 3D site model while the project was in its early stages.
Hayes Barton Place opened in 2024.
If you are interested in learning more about Hayes Barton Place, click here to view the community website. To put WithersRavenel’s talented professionals to work for you, contact Landscape Architecture Manager Daniel Whatley at (919) 238-0312 or dwhatley@withersravenel.com.