The Audrey Irmas Pavilion designed by OMA New York finished construction in June of 2021. The 3rd floor houses the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, an innovative community space for older adults. Susanne Stadler was hired as design consultant to apply her unique age-friendly design principles, that of connection, safety/comfort and delight to the design and execution of the interiors. Learn more about the project in this New York Times article.

The section demonstrates the principle of connection, showing view corridors in the design of the building. These views keep older adults connected to the larger world beyond their immediate space in the Wallis Annenberg Genspace on the 3rd floor.

The South Stairway with dramatic and beautiful vistas connects the Entrance Lobby on the 1st floor with the Wallis Annenberg GenSpace on the 3rd floor and offers opportunities to build strength and mobility for participants.

South Stairway from 2nd to 3rd floor.

Circular Garden: The circular Sunken Garden in the middle of the 3rd floor GenSpace provides ample light and invites walking laps with the safety of a rail.

Fitness Room: Although active engagement is built into the space throughout the Fitness Room is the hub for strength and mobility exercises.

Horticulture Room: A seemingly pristine space gets earthy with a planting and propagation area that is open to all and connects to the outdoor garden.

Art Room: Creative engagement is nurtured in this awe inspiring and wondrous space. Light plays on the floor and interior and exterior vistas are full of fantasies.

Avenidas provides innovative programming for seniors in the City of Palo Alto. In 2017 it started construction on the renovation of and addition to its existing center. Stadler & was hired as interior architect for the 22,000 SF building. The dynamic design started with community engagement in the creative process. Three months after the center opened its doors, Stadler& conducted a post occupancy study to test the success of the design solutions.

Project Architect: Kenneth Rodrigues and Partners
Completion: April 2019

The Main Lobby is both ‘Central Station’ and ‘Home Away From Home’.

A library table is part of the lobby

The Redwood Cafe on the 1st floor of the Center is a welcome addition to the Cafe ‘Scene’ in downtown Palo Alto. It can be accessed from the lobby of the building or the street.

The stairs to the Wellness Wing with its health- and exercise centers invite people to think holistically and incorporate stairs into their daily exercise.

The Fit Stair has a stair counter to mix effort and delight

A variety of outdoor rooms provide opportunities for informal gatherings.

Roof deck with view of downtown Palo Alto

Destiny Arts is an organization who offers youth engagement and self-expression through dance and martial arts. An old Oakland warehouse was remodeled to offer generous studio spaces and give Destiny Arts the opportunity to become a community hub for all ages.

This dining hall, built in the 70's by Skidmore Owens Merrill, needed updating , a new accessible approach and a fresh feel. We designed a new path and stair, new bathrooms, updated the dining room and kitchen. 

The new stair to outdoor dining integrates code requirements for accessibility into the overall aesthetics