We are proud to share that Clara’s Garden Memory Care at The Gary Residence has been recognized with the “Best of the Best” award in the Commercial Building Design & Construction—Compact Commercial New Construction category at Efficiency Vermont‘s annual Better Building by Design (BBD) conference in early April.
As one of 13 Vermont organizations honored for energy leadership, our one-story addition to the historic Gary Residence building was specifically highlighted for its exceptional energy-efficient design and sustainable features. Working in partnership with gbArchitecture, our project successfully met significant design challenges while prioritizing energy efficiency and resident comfort.
Project Highlights:
- Flood-Resilient Design: Our facility was carefully elevated 30 inches above the first floor of the existing building to meet city and state floodplain requirements, with accessible ramps connecting the new addition to the main residence.
- All-Electric Systems: Clara’s Garden features an all-electric design with energy-efficient heat pumps for heating and cooling, eliminating our reliance on fossil fuels.
- Energy-Efficient Kitchen: We installed ENERGY STAR-certified commercial kitchen appliances to reduce energy consumption while providing quality food service to our residents.
- Superior Building Envelope: Our airtight and well-insulated construction ensures resident comfort while minimizing energy use throughout all seasons.
The award was presented during the Better Building by Design conference, which brought together more than 900 design professionals, builders, and experts in climate workforce trades to discuss sustainability and energy efficiency in building design.
This recognition reflects OM Fisher Home Inc.’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship while providing specialized, compassionate care for our memory care residents. We extend our gratitude to gbArchitecture and all our partners who helped make this award-winning project possible.
For more information about Clara’s Garden Memory Care, or to schedule a tour of our award-winning building, please contact us.
