With most buildings there is always a tension between design considerations and cost concerns. In the case of the Victory Centre of Bartlett, Ill., which offers assisted living options for senior citizens, that balance was even more delicate. The state of Illinois was involved with the project, so costs had to be kept in check while making sure that the end result was a desirable place to live for area seniors. In the final analysis, it was the use of common materials such as brick, siding and a shingled roof that proved to be the key to giving the complex a familiar feel for its residents.