UBRCs hold the key
One of the premier potentials in many Australian towns and cities, in particular regional areas, is the available land on education sites. University and education estates are facing ongoing challenges presented by legacy building stock, ever increasing demands on the student experience and the continual need for enterprise to retain their competitive advantage and reputation for embracing pioneering change.
In parallel, retirement living and aged care providers are facing unprecedented growth as they grapple with the demands and opportunities presented by the ageing population, lifestyle choices and lifelong learning. At the interface of such typologies, a fantastic opportunity exists for truly integrated, cohesive and sustainable communities.
Facilities and sites need to be re-imagined and converted to embrace partners such as hoteliers, retirement living providers, technological innovators, international providers and health and wellbeing partners to make campuses more ‘human centred’, inspirational and sustainable.
Retirement Living Council ‘thought leader’ partner, architectural firm ThomsonAdsett, are looking to the future by pooling their expertise in education, health and seniors living to assist clients create smart, integrated suburbs serving surrounding communities.
These communities will include innovations in housing, housing services, integrated care health and education services, redefining sustainability and unravelling the untapped potential of our towns’ and cities’ development sites.
SAGE, the industry international study program, partnered by ThomsonAdsett, has provided opportunity for key ThomsonAdsett personnel to study and visit many University Based Retirement Communities (UBRCs) in the US.
The term UBRC was coined by the founder of George Mason University’s program in senior housing administration, Andrew Carle, in 2006. Today, there are nearly 100 facilities that fall under this description across the USA, and experts anticipate this number will only grow as Baby Boomers continue to retire.
ThomsonAdsett’s Managing Director Chris Straw and Education Group Director Graham Legerton said, “We are interested in further exploring morphed communities with our clients. We are well placed with multiple providers to define complementary pathways and see less distinction between a retirement living community and an education community.
“We see increasing collaboration, mentoring and partnering. The vision is for old, tired assets to become vibrant integral elements of campus and community life.
“This vision we see for our client is creating communities where we see alumni living on campus, visiting academics being attracted by facilities and enterprise, existing unique qualities and characteristics being preserved and enhanced.”
Information on the upcoming SAGE programs to Denmark, Switzerland, Atlanta, New Zealand and the United Kingdom can be found at www.sagetours.com. SAGE also has a bespoke UBRC program available for any interested member. Please contact Judy Martin at [email protected] or 0437 649 672.