The State of Nevada North Las Vegas Veterans Home is envisioned as a one of a kind haven of healing and joy that moves away from a traditional institutional healthcare ambiance. The intent is a warm, inviting, community-oriented setting that feels like home. The design responds to the Southern Nevada desert climate and a regional vernacular, integrating with natural surroundings and emphasizing abundant daylight and connections to exterior landscape spaces for rest, social gatherings, and activities. Upon arrival, a large overhang provides shelter and welcomes residents and visitors into a “porch”. Refined large format natural stone, a warm wood-like finish canopy, nature, and glimpses of light, create a setting to foster community and contemplation. Once within the building an upscale environment is created. The exterior stone is carried along the interiors with an adjacent skylight washing light and highlighting the richness of this material. The reception desk welcomes families and seating areas promote a culture of camaraderie for our veterans. You feel you’ve entered a special place that honors those that served us, not a long-term care facility. Further into the building the “Town Center” reveals itself. The design Team identified spaces that would bring residents and families together and would entice them to come out of their “homes” and venture into a new space at different times of day. A coffee shop next to a living area, a retail space next to the common dining area that transforms into a “game room for bingo,” and a sports bar activate the space. Connections to nature, exterior and daylight are maintained throughout. A display area depicting the 7 branches of services reminds us of who lives here. As the residents walk from the Town Center into the “neighborhoods,” their experience changes; ceilings are lower, and they find along the way other types of spaces that make their journey interesting while fostering care; a salon, barber shop, theater, a physical therapy space that challenges them to do a little more each day with a field graphic on the floor, a conservatory and a chapel become places to stop, engage, feel part of a community, or reflect. All along, glimpses to outdoors environments for them to access are provided, making hallways feel shorter, and giving them an opportunity to pause and heal. Arrival to neighborhoods is announced through materials, color and light. A wood ceiling with a light monitor denotes a seating space for families and residents. From here access to each household is provided. A “shadow box” with their home address “A, B, C..” marks their door. Each unique and branded with nature art and color. Once inside the households, our veterans can smell home. An open kitchen carries the smell of baking in an open floor plan with places to socialize. Care stations disappear within a modern design. Transition into their rooms where care takes place is also planned with experience in mind. “This is not a hospital. It’s a home where long term care happens, and love and honor reside.”