The challenge: Repositioning skilled nursing to independent living
Nonprofit life plan community Clark Retirement Community has served the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan, area since its founding in 1906. To meet the changing needs in the market, improve profitability, and further diversify its existing portfolio, Clark determined it was time to reposition its main Franklin campus. This change would entail reducing its skilled nursing offerings, constructing 22 new independent living apartments, and adding more amenities that support active lifestyles, socialization, wellness programs, and community events.
Clark’s administration had never managed a project of this magnitude and faced several challenges related to construction planning, phasing, and logistics. To provide the experience and resources Clark needed to manage the process, Plante Moran Living Forward (PMLF) was engaged as owner’s representative.
The solution: Engaging a team of experts to guide the development process
As owner’s representative, PMLF’s job was to educate and provide the best options at each turn of the development process to help Clark make insightful decisions for its organization and residents. PMLF provided development advisory services that included managing the request for proposal and bidding process for the project team, determining the appropriate phasing to minimize disruption to staff and residents, overseeing design and construction, and mitigating risk throughout the entire process.
PMLF also helped secure financing and discover and solve financial issues, which kept the organization and project on track. At the end of the project, PMLF saved Clark approximately $350,000 in overall construction costs.
The benefit: Project oversite and risk mitigation leads to on-time, on-budget project
Implementing an $8.7 million repositioning project on more than three floors of an occupied senior living facility required strategic planning and extensive coordination and communication efforts among the project team, administration, staff, and residents. Through constant communication and oversight of the project, PMLF helped Clark remain fully abreast of the critical items and avoid major issues to complete the Franklin project on time and on budget.
PMLF was further engaged to assist with the senior living master planning and oversight of the expansion design and construction activities of Clark’s second campus, Keller Lake. Learn more about Keller Lake’s project, which just wrapped up Phase 1.
An owner’s representative is an experienced extension of your current team, with the resources and industry expertise to help guide you through the development process. Learn more about our development advisory and owner’s representation services.
