The Redwoods is a treasured facility that is nearly 40 years old. As Marin County braces for the silver tsunami, we are doing our part. Planning for the future will require several changes to the facility and upgrades to ensure we provide the best possible facility for our current and future residents.

More than six years of strategic and master planning have resulted in a focused program of Revitalization, which includes the following elements:

• Improve and Expand the Dining and Kitchen Facilities. The dining area, and by extension, the kitchen, are focal points of the Redwoods—more than two-thirds of residents choose to use the dining facilities for one or more meals a day. The Revitalization Plan calls for updating the kitchen, which is more than 35 years old, and providing better circulation and expansion of the dining area along with additional dining options.
• Create a Wellness Center. Seniors today are far more active—for much longer—than when The Redwoods opened in 1972. A top-notch wellness facility will improve the delivery of The Redwoods' extensive recreation, fitness, nutritional, educational, and other wellness programs.
• "Green" Campus Grounds. In keeping with the values of Mill Valley, The Redwoods is committed to the principles of sustainability. This includes making investments to reduce water and net power use and improving the usability of the grounds through establishment of very-low-water landscaping and areas dedicated to resident and family use.
• Redesign the Entry, Circulation, and Transportation Systems. The heavily used main parking lot is inadequate and unsafe for its extensive pedestrian use. The Redwoods would like to improve the image, experience, circulation, and safety of the main campus entry especially for pedestrians. Additional shared transportation services are also planned to reduce the number of cars on the campus.
• Modernize and Rehabilitate 150 Independent Living Units. The Redwoods' 150 independent living apartments are almost 40 years old and require rehabilitation and modernization. The focus will be on the building envelope and systems, with modest improvements to the existing apartments. Unit improvements will include new kitchens and bathrooms, redesigned for better access. The necessary capital repair work creates the opportunity to take advantage of today's superior technologies for heating, insulation, plumbing and mechanical and electrical systems, including potential solar and other "green" technology.

The Redwoods Revitalization Task Force. The Redwoods Board of Directors appointed a nine member task force to provide guidance on the project. The Revitalization Task force includes an architect, developer, past Mill Valley mayor and city manager, attorney, and accountant. The Task Force will vet information and plans and submit proposals to the Board for final approval.

BAR Architects. The Redwoods has selected San Francisco-based BAR Architects to design and supervise construction for the Revitalization project. BAR has extensive experience in designing senior housing and is known for creating buildings that enhance and enrich the lives of those that experience them.

Revitalizing The Redwoods will improve the facilities and enable us to maintain and run the entire campus more cost efficiently. Watch for more news and updates as we move forward with this exciting project.