New Baker Senior Center Naples Building Honored Among Top Projects

NAPLES, FL. – Baker Senior Center Naples, a nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive programs and social services to support local seniors, is proud to announce that its new permanent home in North Naples has been honored with a Silver Aurora Award as one of the Top Commercial Projects across the Southeast United States.

The 30,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility located at 6200 Autumn Oaks Lane was built by local contractor BUILD LLC and opened to members in January. It replaced the organization’s formerly leased facilities and provided additional space for new and enhanced social services and activities to serve the region’s surging senior population.

Established by the Florida Home Builders Association in 1979, The Aurora Awards recognize outstanding projects from across the Southeast during the annual Southeast Building Conference. Categories span across residential, commercial and remodeling industries as well as 12 categories to recognize sales and marketing efforts related to new home sales. Awards are presented to building industry professionals in a 13-state region.

“We are delighted to share this prestigious award with the team at BUILD,” said Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, President/CEO of Baker Senior Center Naples. “From the start, we designed this new building with a residential feel so as to blend in with the neighborhood and make our members feel at home, and BUILD was able to fulfill this vision for us.”

Baker Senior Center Naples is the only human services agency of its kind, providing “one-stop shop” services addressing the emotional and social needs of seniors in Collier and southern Lee counties. Since opening its doors in 2014, the organization has seen a surge in the depth and scope of need for comprehensive senior services in this region.

All programs and services are provided by licensed and credentialed professionals. These include Structured Dementia Respite Support; Geriatric Case Management and Senior Outreach Programs; and Geriatric Mental Health Counseling as well as a Food Pantry.

An average of 40 different social, educational and wellness programs also are offered each week thanks to a dedicated corps of more than 200 trained and vetted volunteers. Among these social programs are classes in art, music and film; brain fitness and educational seminars; courses in technology and computer science; physical well-being; and interest groups. The center serves everyone regardless of backgrounds and beliefs.

Baker Senior Center Naples is one of just 111 senior centers all across the United States, including just eight located within the state of Florida, to achieve accreditation from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC). Accreditation means that the senior center meets the standards as developed by NISC in developing quality programs and services to meet the needs of seniors in the community.

For additional information on Baker Senior Center Naples and its comprehensive programs and social services for local seniors, visit www.NaplesSeniorCenter.org.