Welcome to Broadview
Broadview at Purchase College is a University Retirement Community (URC) receiving positive recognition and awards from the design and development industry. However, the real measure of success comes from how this senior living community impacts the people it serves—the residents, families, and staff, and in the case of Broadview, students and faculty too.
When it comes to enhancing lives through inspired design, MDP relishes the opportunity to serve the senior living industry. “For over 50 years, we have enjoyed creating unique design solutions to serve the diverse needs of our clients and their cherished residents,” describes MDP Principal Bruce Hurowitz. “While there is something special about every project we work on, collaborating on the design of a University Retirement Community has been extra special. Broadview provides an enriching senior living experience. We hope to be part of more projects like this in the future.”
The Benefits of University Retirement Communities
In addition to providing the amenities, hassle-free lifestyle, and comprehensive care and support desired by residents of Life Plan Communities, URCs offer additional layers of engagement and enrichment.
- Ample opportunities for lifelong learning
- Access to university resources and amenities
- Intergenerational interactions
- Increased social and cultural enrichment
Moreover, URCs create a unique setting that allows residents to live a fulfilling and rewarding new chapter of their lives. Broadview Executive Director Ashley Wade has worked in the senior living space for over 25 years, almost exclusively with university-based communities.” I am a huge advocate of this senior living model,” says Wade. “It is an authentically rich solution for senior living.”
Different Paths to URC Success
URC environments find a path to success in different ways. Wade navigated the URC landscape under a variety of conditions, from a one-mile to a five-mile separation between the senior living community and affiliated university to the on-campus set-up of Broadview. “The greater the distance, the more intentional the planning needs to be, from the transportation and dedicated spaces to the programming,” says Wade. “The design of Broadview and the dedicated Learning Commons makes it the gold standard. It was built and designed to foster multigenerational connectivity.”
With the expanding boomer market and desire for niche retirement experiences, Wade believes URCs perfectly suit people interested in lifelong learning and intergenerational engagement. “URCs attract curious people who want to remain curious, people who want to explore avenues of interest they were unable to in previous chapters of their lives.”
Furthermore, Wade finds that URCs attract like-minded individuals. “You end up with an incredible brain trust of people who are wildly smart and super interesting. They have no intention of sitting still and wasting away a day. These residents are determined to define retirement on their terms and to be engaged in a way that has real heft and robustness.”
According to one professor, “It’s always a pleasure to have Broadview residents audit my classes and mentor students. The intergenerational learning environment enriches everyone involved—and the community itself is just fantastic.”
The Power of Knowledge Sharing
Equally important to the success of URCs is the residents’ desire to share their knowledge with others. Wade finds residents’ stories and career paths awe-inspiring. “Our residents are successful, competent, skilled professionals who want to share their experiences. They are passionate about passing wisdom and lessons learned onto the next generation.”
According to Wade, it doesn’t take long for students on campuses associated with URCs to realize that they have access to a highly engaged audience interested in supporting their career development. “We have the most amazing mentorship that happens through all of our Broadview clubs, from pre-med, pre-law, and mental health professionals clubs to a journalism and communications club and an art and design club. We have anecdotal story after anecdotal story that would blow your mind.”
For example, a recently retired Founding Dean of NYU Long Island School of Medicine is helping students connect and get into medical schools. Also, a recently retired Columbia Professor and publisher of Foreign Affairs magazine is talking to kids about journalism careers. And a recently retired casting agent advises students on how to improve their chances of getting onto Broadway. Since Broadview has only been open since December 2023, the list of successful intergenerational mentorship stories has only just begun.
Inspired design supports inspired living
The intentional design of Broadview, combined with the exceptional programming, has residents enjoying this new URC experience. As one resident said, “Moving to Broadview was the best decision of my life—second only to marrying my spouse!”
The Learning Commons
With a current occupancy of 212, the community is thriving, and a variety of spaces are proving popular among the residents. First and foremost, the Learning Commons sets the community apart from other campuses, providing a hub of activity—the hot spot for collaborations between the college and the community.
“Students, faculty, staff, and residents all have the opportunity to mingle, eat, and learn together in the Learning Commons,” says Wade. “At its nucleus, it is what Broadview is all about. The design has been instrumental in achieving the intended interactions. The fluidity and flexibility of the space have created a platform for the desired engagement. It has been wonderful and gratifying to see that come to life.”
The variety of furnishings and layout flexibility support the activity and ergonomic needs of the diverse user groups. While each classroom space allows for a variety of configurations, staff have found it most efficient to set up each area for a different type of activity. Then, they schedule groups according to the specific set-up needs. In addition to supporting a variety of groups and classes, the Learning Commons has provided the perfect setting for music and dance performances and end-of-semester exhibitions.
“There is a myriad of things happening all the time,” says Wade. “Residents are not bored here. In fact, our most common complaint is that things are scheduled at the same time, and they have to make a choice.”
The Coffee Lab & Library
The list of events, activities, and options for socializing extends beyond the Learning Commons. For example, Wade notes the Coffee Lab and the library as other popular spaces. The Coffee Lab provides a grab-and-go dining area that flows into the library.
“Both spaces are highly used and very inviting,” describes Wade. “These areas are utilized by members of the community and members of our team.” From the food and beverage options to the accommodating layout, people are enjoying these areas throughout the day, including a nightcap late into the evening.
The game room is another hot spot of resident activity, for every game group imaginable—Mahjong, poker, rummy, and the list goes on. According to Wade, there is often overflow from the game room into the Coffee Lab, or people arriving early to get their favorite table.
A positive experience for all
In addition to happy and engaged residents, family members are impressed by life at Broadview. “Visitors are surprised at how beautiful it is and frequently comment that it looks and feels like a resort,” comments Wade.
According to one family member, “My mother-in-law is absolutely loving Broadview. She’s so busy socializing and taking classes, we have to schedule visits around her calendar!”
The success of Broadview extends to the staff as evidenced by an employee satisfaction survey designed by a national research firm. More than 100 employees participated, and the results earned Broadview the Choice Community Award by Holleran Consulting, ranking them among the top workplaces in life plan communities nationwide in employee engagement. Furthermore, Wade enjoys hearing team members’ comments that Broadview is the nicest place they’ve ever worked.
From the beautiful finishes and enticing amenity spaces at every level of care to the thoughtful operational considerations, such as storage and service areas, Wade applauds the intentional design. “I could talk for hours about Broadview. There are a million different things I could tell you that make this a special project. It’s been a wonderful and wild experience launching this community, but truly made all the better because of the thoughtful and intentional design.”
Visit the MDP Portfolio to learn more about Broadview at Purchase College and High Point Center for Care at Broadview.
