Senior living community Henry Ford Village announced Oct. 24 that they are hosting a collaborative education experience program known as the Student Designer Show House with the interior design students from Eastern Michigan University and Henry Ford College. The program is designed to give students at the universities a chance to practice their skills in real life situations. As part of a full-semester class project, students will have the opportunity to meet with Henry Ford Village residents and work closely with them to completely redesign a living space at Henry Ford Village.
Susan Haifleigh, an instructor of interior design at the School of Visual and Built Environments at EMU expressed her enthusiasm for the program when she said, "This is a wonderful way to take the academic theories the students are learning in our classrooms and apply them in the real world. Because of collaborations like this one, we know our students will produce creative solutions that are also grounded in reality."
In addition to working with residents throughout the semester, this first-of- its-kind collaborative education experience will also feature a very special series of viewing events. The events will be held at Henry Ford Village Dec. 6 – 9 with three homes designed by the participating students open for viewing.
Karen Wilmering, program coordinator of interior design at Henry Ford College said, "Our students are privileged to work with Henry Ford Village to gain this practical experience and believe it to be an honor to give back to our community through this innovative service project."
The viewings begin on Dec. 6 th with a premiere night open exclusively to the residents of Henry Ford Village, followed by an open house for participating students and their guests on Dec. 8, and finally on Dec. 9, the homes will be available for viewing by the general public. Following the public viewings, the program will end with the completed living space being presented to the Henry Ford Village residents that worked with the students throughout the semester.
More About Henry Ford Village
Henry Ford Village is a vibrant, thriving, active community for people who have worked hard and are looking to get the most out of life by living a maintenance-free lifestyle. A multitude of activities and amenities can be found on the 35-acre grounds including shopping, dining and entertainment. With levels of care that range from fully independent living to assisted living, the staff is available 24/7 at Henry Ford Village which specializes in the latest innovations in senior care. Offering both memory support and a top-quality health rehabilitation center, Henry Ford Village provides skilled nursing and specialized care programs tailored to their resident's individual needs.
