Kwalu Case Study:
University Village, Tampa, FL
Company Profile
University Village is a continuing care residential community located in Tampa, Florida focused on healthy successful living for seniors. It is the only community of its kind in the Tampa metropolitan area to engage in the lifestyle initiative known as ‘Masterpiece Living’.
The ‘Masterpiece Living’ initiative, based on a ten-year study by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, focuses on a set of fundamentals – self-esteem, positive relationship networks, high physical, intellectual, spiritual and social performance – to empower seniors to live their lives with confidence and success. Residents work with a Lifestyle Director to build personalized Masterpiece Living Plans to achieve personal growth and development goals.
University Village supports the initiative through numerous development programs: physical growth (fitness center, personal training, walking trails, aquatics program) intellectual growth (lecture series, computer classes, investment club, art classes), social growth (monthly bistros, afternoon tea, newcomers welcome, Garden Club), and spiritual growth (bible study, prayer circle, vesper services, Village Singers).
Objectives
- Find a sophisticated solution for University Village’s buffet and salad bar area.
- Choose a product that gives the appearance of a fine wood look to coordinate
with the ambiance of the rest of the venue.
- Find a product that could withstand the everyday stress of a high traffic area, require low-maintenance and be easy to clean.
- Find a partner that would get the job done in a timely manner and make sure the installation was done properly.
Solution
Kwalu wall protection systems
Listening to the Voice of the Customer
University Village was undergoing renovations to its food services and dining room areas to further enhance its ‘Masterpiece Living’ initiative for its residents. Award-winning designer Dale Miller and her team at Daring By Design were brought on to turn their vision of sophistication and elegance into a reality. Daring By Design is known in the luxury senior living community for its creative and innovative design solutions for projects that come in on time and within budget. For this part of the renovation, Dale and her team set out to find a product that would look great and last in these high-use applications for the food buffets and dining room walls.
The Kwalu wall protection systems were the perfect solution for the project. Not only does Kwalu wall protection look like real wood, but it is also extremely easy to clean and maintain. There is no need for painting or varnishing like real wood, the products won’t chip and are scuff resistant, it is an anti-bacterial product, and the material is virtually indestructible in high-traffic areas.
The Kwalu team, led by David Horwitz, Chairman, and Bob Upton, Wall Protection Manager, worked closely with Dale to achieve the perfect product answers for the buffet and salad bar, and they were able to incorporate the same look in the dining room to creative a cohesive look throughout the entire venue. The specified product was a Medium Cherry wainscot cladding on the buffet and salad bar stations along with medium cherry wainscot paneling on the walls and columns throughout the dining room.
The order was placed and when the product was delivered, Bob Upton was on-site to make sure the installation went smoothly. Throughout the process Kwalu’s installers made sure to communicate with Dale every step of the way, which enabled discussions to occur regarding visual choices and project updates. This type of working relationship is the reason why at the end of the project Kwalu was asked by Dale to “please be sure to send this team for our next project.” To date, the project has generated many compliments on the beautiful appearance of the “cherry wood” in the venue, to which, people are surprised to learn it is not actually wood but a high-impact resistant polymer. From comments like these it is clear that the goal of University Village and Daring By Design – to give the food services and dining areas the appearance of fine wood – was successfully achieved through working with Kwalu.
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