The challenge
The Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas is an international community of women religious vowed to serve people who suffer from poverty, sickness, and lack of education. The Institute is comprised of six communities with more than 4,200 sisters. The sisters living at the McAuley Center in Farmington Hills desired a long-term plan for their aging members.
Plante Moran Living Forward™ (PMLF) helped them review all their options, including the feasibility of renovating a facility and applying for 37 licensed beds with the state of Michigan. The state approved the certificate of need, and the sisters needed to begin renovations that would bring the facility to code within three years.
The solution
PMLF was engaged as owner’s representative to help the sisters ensure the project began on time, met the needs of their community, and fit the state’s requirements. PMLF identified a design/build plan that gave them the best opportunity to accomplish their objectives. Highlights of the project include:
- ADA-compliant bedrooms and bathing facilities
- Centralized nurse’s station with ample storage for charts/supplies
- Medication room
- A full-service kitchen
- An informal kitchenette
- A formal dining area
- Common areas
The benefit
PMLF helped the sisters manage the construction process, mitigating risk and guarding against budget overruns. The newly renovated space, called Catherine’s Place, was designed with finishes throughout to create more of a hospitality influence and less of an institutionalized feel.
