Mold in Senior Living Facility

A Medically Engineered Solution for a Vulnerable Population

Problem: Mold, Occupancy Decline, and Health Concerns

In a newly constructed three-story senior living facility with 150 rooms, visible mold appeared:

  • Around punched window openings
  • Along exterior perimeter walls
  • In early-occupied residential units

The building, constructed with precast concrete panels, featured individual HVAC systems for six distinct residential layouts.

Challenges:

  • Elderly residents with varied medical histories
  • Mold findings jeopardized future occupancy
  • Continued occupancy was at risk due to health fears
  • Facility’s viability and trust were on the line

BHS Solution: An Integrated Medical + Building Science Response

BHS was engaged to assess the extent of contamination, identify root causes, and preserve safe occupancy — all while protecting a medically vulnerable population. Steps Taken:

  • Destructive investigation of three vertically stacked units
  • Identified:
    • Thermal bridging
    • Interior ice buildup on pre-stressed concrete panels
    • Condensation from differential pressure movement of moist air
  • Diagnosed building envelope tightness and airflow design flaws

Parallel Response Strategy

BHS implemented a dual-track plan balancing health and building science needs:

  • Medical Oversight
    • Health-monitored environmental sampling
    • Risk communication with residents and families
    • Resident-specific remediation protections
  • Building Science Investigation
    • Visual and intrusive investigation for preliminary observations and findings
    • Collaborative diagnostics with the original design team and GC
    • Root cause analysis of envelope, HVAC, and airflow pathways
    • Interim remediation and moisture management plans for continued occupancy during root cause identification and correction

Results: Occupancy Saved, Litigation Avoided

  • No evacuation required
  • Occupancy increased after remediation and resident assurance through physician meetings
  • Revisions made to building envelope penetrations for toilet exhaust and airflow designs
  • Communication from BHS’s medical officer helped dispel fear and maintain resident confidence
  • Remediation executed with health-based scheduling and oversight

Lessons Learned

  • Building failures involving occupied spaces and at-risk individuals require a health-based response, not just standard remediation with occupant relocation
  • Collaboration between owners, builders, building scientists, and physician enabled effective, cost-efficient solutions with minimal disruption to occupancy

When buildings house people, particularly the medically vulnerable, healthy buildings equal healthy business — and the need for a team like BHS becomes non-negotiable.