Skip to main content

Clark County Rehab and Living Center

History Looks to the Future

The Clark County Rehab and Living Center (CCRLC) has served this Central Wisconsin county for nearly 100 years, providing healthcare services to the elderly, mentally ill and developmentally disabled. Facility leaders came to CLS with a primary goal in mind—improve marketability to boost revenue so that its tax levy could be eased or even eliminated. CLS’s master planning process showed that CCRLC would benefit from a new short-term rehabilitation wing and private long-term care rooms. The process also showed leaders that distance was not an issue in attracting residents, but rather its long-time perception as the “county home.” But, that perception could be overcome with a residential-style design. The 27,570-square-foot addition includes 16 short-term rehab rooms and 16 private long-term care rooms. The addition also paves the way for the next project phases, which include additional wings and a stepped approach to remodeling each floor of the original building.

Project Challenges

  • Develop a master plan that accounts for ongoing remodeling and future privatization.
  • Allow for connection points from the new addition for future building phases.
  • Honor the existing building architecture while incorporating a homelike atmosphere inside and out.
  • Create a new and clear main entrance to the campus.

Project Process

The master planning process focused on creating revenue to reduce or eliminate the facility’s tax levy. During this process, CLS led multiple studies, including a market study, to identify the area’s needs. CLS also conducted focus groups with facility staff, facility leaders and a building committee. Biweekly meetings throughout the project provided building committee design review and staff-driven decision making.

Project Highlights

  • A separate therapy space includes private treatment and speech therapy rooms and an apartment with a kitchenette, laundry and bath for occupational therapy practice.
  • Rehab and long-term care have a country kitchen with separate dining rooms that can be opened for one large gathering space.
  • A four-seasons porch and corridors provide views to the outdoors.
  • A secured courtyard provides access to the outdoors without flight risk.

Why this project was successful

The number of rehab patients choosing CCRLC has increased significantly since the new addition opened.  Multiple small gathering spaces added to the design are frequently filled. And, residents’ well-being is improved with visual and/or physical connections to the outdoors throughout the addition. This all contributed to improved financial performance.