St. Joseph of the Pines is uniting its past, present and future into what is becoming The Overlook at Pine Knoll, the organization's newest senior living community.

Formerly the Pine Needles Inn and Resort, The Overlook at Pine Knoll is being renovated into 24 senior living residences that are designed to maintain the structure's architectural roots while meeting the needs of today's independent seniors and incorporating the features residents desire for the future.

Originally constructed in 1928, The Overlook was designed in the Jacobean Tudor architectural style. SFCS Inc., the Charlotte-based architects contracted by St. Joseph's to restore The Overlook, have preserved the original exterior while modernizing many of the building's features.

"The building will no longer run off a centralized heat and air system," said Hoppy Sell, director of marketing and sales for St. Joseph's. "Instead, each luxurious apartment will be individually climate-controlled. We have moved the elevator shafts to the exterior rear of the building to provide ample opportunity to increase the sizes of the apartments.

"We will also be equipped with state-of-the-art fire and smoke detection systems, emergency response devices, cable television, and high-speed Internet."

The Overlook's interior will also reflect the Jacobean Tudor heritage, thanks to the locally-based Village Design Group, hired by St. Joseph's for the interior design. Cynthia Kent-Mills, Vicki Stone, Susan Brown, and Debra Rhodes Smith complete the interior design team charged with balancing the building's architectural style with senior-friendly components.

"Because The Overlook is a Jacobean building, it's been important for us to create a senior living atmosphere that doesn't have an institutional feel to it," said Kent-Mills. "It is a unique, remarkable building."

The building's age has allowed the interior design team to use era-specific furnishings built with modern conveniences, many of which are original items from the Pine Needles Inn and Resort.

For example, chairs are being refurbished with higher, firmer seat cushions, supportive arms, and casters.

In addition, the original terrazzo floor -- a type of marble-mosaic flooring -- will be replaced with stunning carpet, which provides more of a home-like environment.

The ultimate goal of the interior design of The Overlook, according to the team, has been to introduce cheerful, bright colors and well-lit common areas that blend with the Jacobean Tudor style from room to room.

Rhodes Smith, art consultant to the Village Design team, drew inspiration from the architecture and history of the building to provide two local commissioned artists, Paula Montgomery and Irene McFarland Knox, the vision with which to create additional artwork for The Overlook.

"We've tried to design the interior of The Overlook like a five-star hotel, with all the comforts to make it feel like home," Stone said. "We're striving for nice dcor and artwork with 1920s-era Jacobean flavor."

The interior design is not the only senior-friendly component to The Overlook at Pine Knoll. Such services as interior and exterior maintenance, housekeeping, wellness and fitness programs, transportation, 24-hour security, and a personal emergency response service are also provided to residents, who may even take advantage of a discounted golf membership to area courses.

"Future health care is another aspect that St. Joseph's has incorporated into The Overlook," Sell said. "Residents have the option of selecting the retirement plan that is most beneficial to their needs -- an extensive benefit plan, which is a prepaid medical benefit, or a fee-for-service benefit that lets residents pay for health care when its needed."

In addition, Wendy Farrell, Move Coordinator for St. Joseph of the Pines, organizes monthly 'Solutions Seminars' for future residents of The Overlook which provide information on how to prepare for a move.

"St. Joseph of the Pines gathers the future residents of the Overlook together monthly to help this group form a bond that will continue on in the tradition of the family-style atmosphere of the Pine Knoll campus," Farrell said. "These seminars are also meant to educate and provide support to future residents who may feel overwhelmed by a move to a new home."

Twenty two-bedroom homes will be located in the five-story main building with an additional four located in the former Pro Shop. Certain homes will also include screened-in porches and spacious ceiling heights, with an original fireplace in the living room of the Pro Shop.

The first floor of the Overlook building is designed for resident social activities. This first floor "arcade" will have a reception desk, game and billiards room, library, chapel, theater, pub lounge, original fireplaces and more.

St. Joseph of the Pines Health System, a member of Catholic Health East, is sponsored by the Sisters of Providence and includes Belle Meade Resort Retirement, The Villas at Pine Knoll, The Overlook at Pine Knoll, The Coventry, The Health Center, and Providence Place.

For more information on The Overlook at Pine Knoll, interested persons can call 246-1008.

Contributed by Jennifer Bunting, marketing and sales coordinator for St. Joseph of the Pines Health System.