Crane’s Mill at West Caldwell - Wellness and Aquatic Center

The Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey’s Crane’s Mill health and wellness areas suffered from poorly lit, cramped spaces that did not support the community’s holistic approach to quality of life and well-being. In response, the KDA team designed a Wellness and Aquatic Center renovation and expansion that optimized space adjacencies and embraced a connection to activity, daylight, and the outdoors.

The Center’s entrance is now located near the main entrance of the Commons. A hospitality concierge welcomes residents, and guides them to medical appointments. To aid with wayfinding, a brightly lit passage enlivened with wall murals connects Health and Wellness areas. Arriving at Wellness, a beacon of light and glass presents the entry into the expanded gym and new exercise room. 

Transparency and connection to the outdoors was achieved by an unobstructed view of the adjacent Aquatic Center. A reworking of the exterior wall tripled the natural light and created a day-lit socializing space overlooking a garden courtyard.