Apr 10, 2024
Senior Design Manager, Meg Stevens, and Senior Designer, Kaitlynn Howell are attending the Environments for Aging (EFA) Conference in Atlanta at the Galleria Cobb Centre, April 13th - 16th, 2024. As interior designers who are passionate about creating welcoming and innovative spaces for seniors, attending the EFA Conference is an invaluable opportunity to stay at the forefront of the industry trends and emerging concepts. We recently sat down with Meg and Kaitlynn to discuss what they are looking forward to the most while at the conference.
SEMINARS
What are you looking forward to learning more about at this year’s Environments for Aging conference?
Meg: I am thrilled to be attending the EFA Conference again this year - this makes it the third year in a row for us! Looking at the roster of seminars, there are so many great topics being presented this year.
Kaitlynn: I agree! Active Adult is an emerging concept that I'm looking forward to hearing about more. From our experience, it is filling a need in the market for those seniors who do not need the level of care provided by Independent Living, but still offers the social amenities that many seniors look for.
Meg: Absolutely, as the industry prepares for the baby boomers, this niche is needed. Many baby Boomers are not quite ready for the care at Independent Living, but want the social aspects, less property maintenance, and a more cost-effective solution to the more traditional senior living model. I see this niche growing extensively in the next ten years.
Kaitlynn: One seminar that really piques my interest is centered around LGBTQ+ and inclusivity. Generationally, today's seniors grew up during a time when their identities were marginalized. There was discrimination, social isolation and lack of support. I'm looking forward to seeing how we, as designers, can combat this and create welcoming environments for people in their later years.
TRENDS
What trends are you currently seeing in the senior living experience and what are you looking forward to exploring at EFA?
Meg: One topic that I always look forward to during this conference are the emerging trends in senior living design. Biophilia, wellness, and connection to the outdoors are topics that have emerged as trends in the past few years. I hope to see more discussion surrounding aesthetics. In our past projects, some key concepts that we've leaned into for our designs are regional, nostalgic and modern aesthetics.
Kaitlynn: By incorporating the locality into our designs, the residents have an immediate connection to their home. Nothing is better than seeing a person's face light up when we've hung a piece of artwork that calls back to their neighborhood.
Meg: And it's even better when we add touches of nostalgia throughout the space. Some of our favorite elements are vintage photos incorporated into an art gallery. We've even incorporated black and white photos into a stack of books for a resident to discover later. We hope it brings a smile to their face.
Kaitlynn: Yes! But at the end of the day, our designs are driven by creating a modern space for the residents, in combination with regional and nostalgic elements. The result is a welcoming space for residents that makes them feel at home.
EXPO
What other aspects of EFA are you looking forward to?
Meg: We can't talk about EFA without discussing the Expo which showcases senior living furniture and material manufacturers. It's an opportunity for us designers to see products in person, touch, sit, and talk to vendors.
Kaitlynn: It's a great one-stop-shop approach to seeing the latest from manufacturers. We have the opportunity to understand the amount of research done for products specializing in this industry. Items such as raised seat heights and firm cushions for seating are important for seniors and how they use chairs and sofas, for example.
Meg: Right and learning about innovative materials such as Kwalu's polymer finish and how high-impact resistant it is. Or seeing the mobility solutions that Samuelson Furniture has developed by adding hooks to the back of dining chairs for walkers.
Kaitlynn: It may seem small, but these slight changes to the way furniture is developed allows seniors to be more independent for a longer period.
Meg: "Talking about this makes me more excited to attend this year. I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and making new connections!"
Kaitlynn: "Me too. I can't wait to see everyone there!"
Meg Stevens directs her creative senior living interiors team with a collaborative energy that engages design possibility in every project. It is at this intersection of strategic development and inviting interiors that Meg and her team thrive. Developing a profound portfolio that spans more than a decade, Meg is recognized for her wide range of projects across the hospitality, senior living, and health + wellness sectors. The throughline in every design project Meg and her team undertake is the consideration of the guest and how they will interact with the space and how it will positively impact their lives.
At Chipman Design Architecture, Meg is charged with design management with a specialty in senior living communities, taking projects from conceptualization through completion. She is adept at developing the overall interior concept and designing specifically for seniors’ needs across care levels while developing the design direction, space plan and overlaying materials and finishes. Her management skills continue through construction documents and specifications, FF+E budgeting, design presentations, project installations and all client relations. A featured speaker at Boutique Design New York (BDNY), Meg is a graduate of University of Indiana, receiving her Bachelor of Interior Design and is a LEED AP-licensed professional.
Kaitlynn Howell, NCIDQ, IIDA, a native of Kansas, is an experienced senior designer with a focused expertise on senior living design. She is passionate about collaborating with project stakeholders throughout the development lifecycle and working towards the common goal of an extraordinary space. Her strong design sense and keen eye for materiality are repeatedly demonstrated in a collection of sophisticated and invigorating senior living projects across the country.
Kaitlynn is involved throughout all design phases, from programming and strategic planning, through interior design and document preparation. Her experience has provided her with the knowledge and ability required to execute projects with technical efficiency, flexibility and an environment that represents the clients’ goals. Kaitlynn graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Design.
Chipman Design Architecture (WBE) is a people-first, family-owned senior living, retail, and hospitality, architecture firm composed of innovators, architects, and interior designers who love collaborating, breaking boundaries, and creating spaces for tomorrow. For over forty years, the firm has separated themselves with a focus on the future in regard to organizational structure, customer experience and fostering community. With corporate headquarters in Chicago, and five additional national offices, Chipman Design provides interior design, experiential design, and architectural expertise throughout North America. Today, the firm’s Principal team, led by third generation family member, and CEO, Lauren Chipman, offers innovation and professionalism through complete architectural and interior design services. Through membership in the U.S. Green Building Council, the firm’s commitment to sustainability and lowering energy consumption continues to reinforce recognition of the critical role of architects in today’s world.
