The Towsley Center at the Chelsea United Methodist Retirement Center was designed to accommodate residents dealing with dementia, particularly Alzheimer's. DDR was retained to prepare courtyard designs and a master plan for the Chelsea Retirement Center's newly acquired property. The overall site plan included native plantings and ponds surrounding the building to provide drainage while attracting wildlife.

The goal of the staff was to create meaningful, pleasant experiences even if the resident might not be able to remember them. Additionally, special design issues included concerns that residents would wonder away from the facility. The design provided enclosure for the open-ended courtyards without the impression of imprisonment. Abundant plantings created pleasant spaces while concealing decorative fences to accomplish these goals.