Thesis | Vol. 2 | 2018

JESSIE BEAN

t h e s i s vo l . 2

ELEVATE

a m e n ta l h e a l t h reh a b i l i ta t i o n re t re a t a n d co m m u n i ty we l l n e s s ce n te r for mi litar y veterans

To U n i te d S ta te s s e r v i ce m e n a n d wom e n , w h o m a ke g re a t s a c ri f i ce s for ou r countr y ’s f reedom.

T h a n k yo u .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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DEDICATION

5

CON TENTS

7

R E S EARCH

11

IN S PIR ATION

15

CON CE PT & SITE

19

STATE MENTS

21

PR O CESS

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FLOOR PL ANS

31

BUILDING SECTION

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FIN IS H PA LET TE

41

FU R N ITURE

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BIOPHILIA

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H E A LTH + WELLNESS

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S OU RCES

DE S I G N I NG FO R

I NVI S I BL E WO U N D S Soldiers and their families suffering f rom PTSD or other mental brain disorders are extremely sensitive to their physical environment due to the experiences they have been through.

Designing the built environment to meet the needs of these patients is of the utmost importance in order to create an environment that promotes successful healing.

PERSONAL SPACE + DENSITY:

provide and allow enough room for comfortable personal space and to reduce overcrowding.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION:

when disorganized, a space can feel chaotic and induce stress. Providing a clear, organized space will decrease patient confusion.

COMFORTABLE SURROUNDINGS:

providing a non-clinical space while creating a more “homelike” aesthetic will give patients a sense of belonging.

ACCESS TO NATURE + DAYLIGHT:

daylight and views of nature are important factors in a healing environment. Access to nature has been proven to improve behavioral changes in patients.

CHOICE + CONTROL:

by offering choices in a space it increases an individual’s sense of control and thereby reduces stress.

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WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ?

ONE in THREE returning troops are being diagnosed with serious post-traumatic stress symptoms and less than 40% will seek help.

In 2009, a record breaking year for suicides in the service, 245

soldiers killed themselves due to post-traumatic stress symptoms.

LESS THAN WILL SEEK HELP

40% On average, ˡɮƺ active-duty troops attempt suicide

each day.

1,100 soldiers

Over 1,100 soldiers have taken their lives since 2006.

Veteran homelessness is on the rise with 1/3 of our nation’s homeless being retired veterans. Many of these individuals suffer from PTSD and have no means to get help.

PROJ ECT

IN SPI RATI ON Nestled within the breathtaking landscape of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is home to some of the most remarkable views and one of the world’s most visited attractions, Pike’s Peak. With its extraordinary scenery and organic, flowing forms, the mountain serves as an ideal backdrop and abstract inspiration for the design of Elevate, a mental health and wellness retreat for military veterans, their families, and the surrounding community.

BASE CAMP

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JOURNEY

CON CEPT The natural flowing forms found in the surrounding mountain peaks and trails inspire the feelings of healing and peace within the space. Similar to the experience of climbing a mountain like Pike’s Peak, the journey endured when healing f rom post-traumatic stress disorder can take a different shape depending upon the individual. The facility offers the best opportunity for soldiers and veterans to regain their pre-injury abilities in a supportive, healing environment that is tailored to each patient’s needs. Focusing on healthy and active lifestyles encourages veterans to embark on a journey of self-exploration and hope.

Emphasizing biophilic design and the healing powers of nature, the site of this veteran’s retreat offers panoramic views of nearby mountains and valleys. Drawing inspiration f rom these peaks, the space features design elements marked by layering, overlapping and points of prospect. Aimed at promoting lifestyles that reduce stress and combat depression and PTSD, this facility hopes to give veterans the f resh start they deserve and advocates for healthier and more active lifestyles. The retreat will help f ill a vital role in the recovery, reconnection, relaxation, and reintegration of our military heroes.

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SITE 1 60 5 Pi ke’s Peak Ave, Col ora d o S pri n g s, CO 8 0 91 0 Memorial Park is located east of downtown Colorado Springs. It is the site of many annual cultural events including the Labor Day Lift Off and the Pike’s Peak Celtic Festival. It is also home to Prospect Lake which offers the community a space to utilize the outdoors.

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PROJECT STATEMENT

For my thesis project I am designing a three-story, 53,300 sq. ft. mental health rehabilitation retreat and community wellness center for military veterans, their families and the surrounding community. Veterans lack the necessary, comforting resources all in one place. The main goal of this wellness center is to provide a space that promotes a lifestyle that helps reduce stress, combat depression and post traumatic stress disorder therefore promoting an overall healthy and active lifestyle. With a strong focus on PTSD rehabilitation, the facility offers a location that provides all the amenities of a wellness center to create an environment that betters the lives of the community and the veterans living in the city of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

To support the concept of rehabilitation and well being, a focus on creating an anti-clinical environment for wounded veterans, their families and the surrounding community will be done with the use of sustainable materials, design elements and state of the art technologies and information.

A large focus on biophilia and connection to nature will be used in design decisions and will improve the healing process of the patients. The wellness and healing of the patients will be enhanced with the use of sustainable design principles and connection to nature.

THESIS STATEMENT 19

PR O CE S S

Overcoming a mental trauma or mental disorder is nothing short of a monumental struggle.

Elevate aims at creating spaces that help give veterans going through this healing process a place of peace, f ree of distracting elements, and a space to interact with other people experiencing similar struggles.

While thinking about my chosen site location, surrounded by the Colorado Rockies, I began to think about the similarity between the journey someone endures with PTSD and healing f rom a traumatic event and the journey someone goes through when hiking a mountain.

This comparison brought me to the diagram below, where I used the idea of a “base camp” at the start of your hike as the f irst floor of the retreat, the “journey” as the second floor, and the “peak” as the third floor. All levels are different areas that the soldiers can heal in and interact with their families, peers, and community members.

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FLOOR 3: PE A K

FLOOR 2: J O UR N EY

FLOOR 1: B A S E CA MP

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PARTI When exploring the underlying grid and existing geometries that the buildings envelope provided, I found the angles and paths that helped determine the mezzanine cut out shapes.

The image of layering and overlapping that you see when you look at the horizon of mountain peaks is graphically used to create depth to the mezzanine and provide areas of refuge as well as areas of prospect throughout the facility. These areas help offer the veterans a place to overlook on the facility, symbolic of the journey they have taken so far in their healing process.

L AYE R I N G

FLOOR PL A N S Nestled within the breathtaking landscape of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is home to some of the most remarkable views and one of the world’s most visited attractions, Pike’s Peak. With its extraordinary scenery and organic, flowing forms, the mountain serves as an ideal backdrop and abstract inspiration for the design of Elevate, a mental health and wellness retreat for military veterans, their families, and the surrounding community.

FLO OR 1

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FLO OR 2

FLO OR 3

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ELEVATE REACH YO U R PE AK

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PROSPECT LAKE Located adjacent to Prospect Lake, this retreat provides the community a space to interact and socialize while being surrounded by the beautiful views of nature that play an essential role in the healing process.

FI NI S H PAL E T T E Inspired by the vibrant rolling mountains of Colorado Springs and the colors that are found in the surrounding landscape, the cool color palette creates a calming place to heal.

Directed at the user’s demographic, the use of highly textural and neutral toned spaces create a home-like environment, intended to promote and enhance the healing aspects of the space.

Keeping sustainability at the foref ront of my design decisions when developing the space was an important and integral step in the material selection. Being conscious of where the materials are sourced f rom as well as where they will end up after their use is done, is also something that I considered when choosing the materials for this project.

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FRONT ENTRANCE As people approach the building they are greeted by a wooden post and beam entrance, a homage to the aesthetic on the interior.

An American flag is placed adjacent to the entrance, as always to remind the community why the retreat is so important - it is designed for the heroes who f ight and serve for our country everyday.

FURNI TU R E Backed by research on PTSD and facilities that are specif ically designed for soldiers returning f rom war, I found that there is a huge lack of comfortable environments that provide care to these soldiers. By creating this retreat, I developed an experience that offers these soldiers and their families a place of peace and relaxation as well as the needed tools to help reintegrate themselves into everyday life after suffering f rom such traumatic events.

With a strong emphasis on removing the clinical setting f rom the facility, I focused on creating a residential feeling while incorporating the needed amenities for soldiers and their families as well as the community to utilize. In my research I found that clinical settings can actually be very detrimental in the healing process, so by removing some of these elements f rom the space and replacing them with more common, residential products, furniture and materials, it creates a space that is conducive to a healing environment.

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HighTower Access - Continental Sofa

Coalesse - CH24 Wishbone Chair

CB2 - Roadhouse Leather Bar Stool

HighTower Access - Capri Guest Lounge

Herman Miller - Crosshatch Lounge

Edgemod - Trattoria Side Chair

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MAIN ENTRANCE As people enter the space they are greeted by a logo branded wall directing them towards the reception desk where they can sign up for monthly programs held at the facility or register for extended stay. The large mezzanine openings above peak interest and create a grand moment upon entering.

SEATING AREAS Ancilary seating areas on the f irst level provide the building occupants and guests a place to socialize and a spot to sit and observe. These seating areas are strategically placed so they all have sightlines to the calming outdoor views.

COMMUNITY GYM Located on the f irst floor of the facility, this community gym is used to bring people in.

This facility is not only meant to be used by the veterans and their families but also serve as a gathering place for locals in the area.

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COMMUNITY CAFE The cafe allows people to interact and engage with the community. Not only is this a space for the community members to utilize but it is also a gathering space for informal conversation and education.

B I OPH I L I A & S U STAI N A BI L I TY A connection to nature, whether direct or indirect, is proven to enhance and improve a patient’s healing process. To utilize these amazing healing powers of nature and enhance the connection with nature, I used biophilic elements and design principles throughout the space. One of the 14 patterns of biophilic design states that views to nature and the outdoors can promote healing and enhance a user’s healing process, thus the extended amount of exterior glazing on the building directing you to the beautiful views of the Colorado Rockies.

While the beautiful scenery can help heal you f rom the outdoors, strategically placed planters, such as the one to the left are located around the retreat to enhance the user’s overall experience and bring the nature indoors. Utilizing plants as a form of biophilia also helps the space’s overall sustainability. The indoor plants not only help with positive feelings but they also help with air f iltration and creating that home-like aesthetic that the retreat aims to provide.

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MEZZANINE Located on the second floor, this spot on the mezzanine allows the user to look down below and above them, symbolic of the stages in their journey they have taken so far. This view also gives you access to see which spaces are being utilized.

THERAPY GYM Located on the second floor, the therapy gym is designed to offer the soldiers a place where they can receive more in depth physical therapy that they may need or require. This gym is located in the northwest corner of the building, offering views of the lake and Pike’s Peak.

YOGA ROOM The yoga studio provides a wellness component to the building offering the users a space to relax. In the yoga room, people can overlook the adjacent Prospect Lake and local park with all its green scenery.

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HEALTH & WELLN E S S As part of my research I focused on the methods that are the most successful for healing soldiers with PTSD. Kelly McGaughey, a physical therapist that works for the Travis Mills Foundation, a facility in Rome, Maine similar to Elevate, stated that getting these soldiers who have faced such traumatic events to interact and engage in some form of physical activity had been the most successful thing that she had seen in their results. It not only helped them if they had physical injuries, but also those with mental trauma begin their healing process.

Incorporating both community and therapy gyms as well as a yoga studio, help enhance and promote a lifestyle for these veterans that helps reduce their stress levels and combats their PTSD and depression, therefore promoting an overall healthier and active lifestyle.

Choosing my site location was not only intended for the beautiful views of the mountains, lake and scenery but also to incorporate other programs based outside the physical building of the retreat itself. Programs such as daily hikes and excursions, kayaking on the lake, swimming lessons, archery, fly f ishing, mountain biking and more are essential to the environmental impact on the healing process. With unlimited possibilities the Elevate retreat offers soldiers vast opportunities to help combat their PTSD.

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OUTDOOR PATIO Located on the third floor of the retreat, I designed an outdoor area for the soldiers and their families to rest and relax. Equipped with f ireplaces and porch swings, this space feels just like home. With access to the breeze coming off the Rocky Mountains in the distance, this space would be one of the most relaxing and comforting locations in the facility.

PUBLIC REST ROOMS Throughout the retreat, the public rest rooms are designed to be fully accessible for wheelchair access, as well as beautifully functional. By continuing the materials found throughout the building this space continues with the holistic approach of the design.

DINING ROOM Through precedent research and several case studies on facilities for soldiers, I found that the dining room is another essential space for healing. Located on the third floor, this space is dedicated to just the soldiers and their families to utilize for group meals and conversation.

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BEDROOM ENTRANCES Creating the idea of a “f ront porch� at the entrance of the bedrooms was an essential part of creating a community aspect within the retreat. The idea of inviting f riends over and chatting on the f ront porch can be continued in this space, making it ideal for soldiers and their families to converse and share their stories and learn f rom one another.

BEDROOMS Designed to feel like a home away from home, the bedrooms at Elevate offer breathtaking panoramic views of to the outdoors to emphasize the healing powers of nature. With natural elements and materials the rooms are created to offer a peaceful, quite space to be alone or with family.

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THANK YOU VETERANS