Andrew Banoff speaking to donors and friends at the grand opening. / Regina Madwed, Capitol PhotoInteractive
Bridgeport, CT – The new Jewish Senior Services (JSS) building on the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg campus recently opened its doors. Local seniors are now able to enjoy Connecticut’s first household-model senior care building featuring assisted living, skilled nursing, hospice care, and a full range of senior care services.
KBE Building Corporation served as construction manager at risk for the new $75 million, 372,000sf building located on the former site of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) at 4200 Park Avenue in Bridgeport.
Designed by architect Perkins Eastman, the new JSS campus features the first household model of senior care in Connecticut.
Mayor Joseph P. Ganim presenting a certificate of recognition to Jeffrey Radler, chairman of JSS. / Regina Madwed, Capitol PhotoInteractive
Each of the households encompasses an entire floor and services 14 residents with private bedrooms and bathrooms along with a den, dining and living rooms, a kitchen, and balcony.
The new campus provides an array of existing senior services in addition to several new services made possible by the new building.
The entire project team included KBE, Jewish Senior Services, Perkins Eastman, and Capital Projects.
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“A project of this magnitude usually requires a budget of equal measure” said Ross Mezzanotte, KBE project manager. “But we were able to work with the owner, architect, and our subcontractors to achieve a construction cost of approximately $200 psf, which is well below the market for a project of this type.”
(l-r) Mayor Joseph P. Ganim, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Andrew H. Banoff, president and CEO of JSS / Regina Madwed, Capitol PhotoInteractive
“It was important to preserve the history and memories that lived in the walls of the Jewish Community Center and the vacated Jewish Home for the Elderly located just a few miles away from the new facility.” said Simon Etzel, who joined KBE in 1987 and became a principal in 2007 with fellow senior executives Mike Kolakowski and Eric Brown. “From the beginning, the Project team made it a priority to incorporate the same feeling of community that was so present in the old building into this newly designed facility.”
New services made possible by the new building.
- 18 assisted living units (1-bedroom and studios)
- 18 skilled nursing households each with 14 private bedrooms and bathrooms (252 residents total)
- two short-term rehabilitation households each with 14 private bedrooms and bathrooms and indoor and courtyard therapy centers (28 residents total)
- two households servicing residents with dementia each with 14 private bedrooms and bathrooms and an adjacent courtyard (28 residents total)
- adult day program
- outpatient therapy
- home care
- hospice care
- Institute on Aging
- Center for Elder Abuse Prevention
- Senior Choice at Home®
Amenities for Local Families
The following features of the new intergenerational campus are available to families in the community:
- 18,000 s/f fitness center
- 25-yard, four-lane indoor swimming pool w/access ramp
- child care center (infants through pre-school)
- kosher bistro
- multi-purpose room
- social, educational, recreational, and spiritual activities for all generations
Building the first household model senior living facility in Connecticut had its share of challenges. It was a very valuable and unique learning experience for all parties involved who now can bring this experience to new clients who follow in JSS’s footprints.
Close collaboration among the entire team was truly a key to the project’s success. That, and the sheer optimism and positivity of JSS’s President and CEO, Andrew H. Banoff.
“Andrew’s vision and determination to complete this project for his residents was inspiring,” said Mezzanotte. “Knowing this building’s purpose – that it will have such a positive effect on thousands of seniors and their families over the generations – provided special inspiration for all of us each and every day.”
“Andrew was one of the most involved owners I have ever worked with – in the best way possible,” said Etzel. “I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of senior care, and because of Andrew’s attitude and JSS’s overall commitment to quality senior care, I have believed in this project from the very beginning and I take great pleasure in knowing KBE Building Corporation was a very important part of its success.
The entire team at KBE Building Corporation looks forward to seeing this structure stand tall for many years to come.
