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Thursday November 11, 2010

Renovations Exceed Expectations

(click for larger image) The finished front entrance of the JVS building. (click for larger image) A worker measures drywall during the JVS renovations.

When the JVS program participant first saw the finished renovations, her eyes filled with tears.

“It’s so nice,” she told JVS Vice President Rich Davis, who had been giving program participants a tour. 

She was especially happy with the bright look of the break room.  It was more spacious with many large windows.

Now, months after completion, JVS considers the renovation project a huge success, far surpassing expectations:

•            All JVS program participants, many of whom use wheelchairs or walkers, now have sheltered access to the building using covered ramps and walkways, which lead to automatic doors.

•            Open activity areas allow more flexible programming and better interaction among program participants.

•            All Adult Day Service participants can gather in one large room to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays and holidays.  Choirs, drill teams and magicians can perform for them with plenty of extra space.

“It’s just been easier for staff to keep up with the folks, to keep them safe and more engaged in their activities,” Davis says.

JVS made the renovations to its Rossplain Road building in Blue Ash to accommodate the changing demographics of the people it serves. Many have more significant disabilities and on average are older.  Restrooms were expanded and upgraded, the size and shape of activity rooms was changed and energy efficient lighting was installed in the Work Center.

JVS did all of this with an eye to the future as it expects demand for its programs serving senior citizens to increase as the need for other programs decreases. 

JVS also moved the Cincinnati Career Network, which provides career development services, into a larger area, with private offices and a conference room. It also added a computer lab for use by jobseekers.

JVS spent about $950,000 on the project, borrowing about half. It benefitted from low-interest rates and highly competitive bids because of the slowdown in construction work.

This story appeared in the JVS Pathways Fall 2010 newsletter. To receive a free subscription to the JVS Pathways' email edition, please submit your email address here.