White Oak of Tryon

As White Oak Manor’s skilled nursing and assisted living facility in Tryon, NC began to show signs of age, they turned to McMillan Pazdan Smith for help breathing new life into an important community asset. Working through multiple iterations to address the extremely challenging site constraints, the design team carefully crafted a facelift for the facility that also achieved two key improvements that would most positively affect the residents’ experience — expanded therapy services and an updated Independent Living wellness center.

The final design strategy considered the needs of residents, staff, and visitors. A new, more accessible front entrance, additional administrative space, and an overall rejuvenation to the aging, flat-roof building’s aesthetics provide curb appeal and an improved experience. Inside, the existing four-bed wards easily adapted into semiprivate rooms with full-service bathrooms.

To take advantage of the surrounding mountain views, the new therapy suite is located at the rear of the facility. Just as importantly, the separate entrance and covered colonnade to the parking lot will allow the facility to add outpatient therapy services in the future. The new Wellness Center transformed old, unused amenity spaces into a full gym and exercise room and included improvements to the existing dining room