Architects Embrace Placemaking

From ground-up development to renovations, this new wave of projects aims to connect seniors more fully with their surroundings.

As the seniors housing industry matures and evolves to meet the needs of a changing customer, so too does the design of the communities. Outdoor spaces have become more vital than ever before as new research emerges about the power of natural sunlight. Architects are integrating technology into design with the goal of creating environments that not only enhance the resident experience but also support operational efficiencies. 

Meanwhile, staff break rooms that foster a more comfortable and rejuvenating atmosphere for employees are emerging. “Most notably, staff areas are no longer relegated to basements; they are thoughtfully integrated into the overall design,” says Chuck Archer, principal at Portland, Oregon-based LRS Architects.

“This investment in staff environments is crucial not only for attracting talented, quality employees but also for prioritizing the well-being of both staff and residents. Operators are beginning to understand that fostering a supportive workplace is essential for delivering high-quality care,” adds Archer.

Seniors Housing Business spoke with six architectural and design firms about the opportunities and challenges they face today and gave them the opportunity to highlight significant projects. What follows are their stories.

BCT Design Group: Understand 

the Surrounding Community

The guiding philosophy of BCT Design Group is captured in four simple words: “design like a local.”

“With every community that we design, we look at the surrounding context. Before we put pen to paper creating a building’s identity, it is important for us to understand the adjacent community,” says Janet Meyer, a principal at Baltimore-based BCT who specializes in seniors housing and serves as co-leader on the firm’s housing and mixed-use projects.

Asking the right questions and being a good listener from the get-go are critically important. Is there an architectural style that would blend in well with the surrounding area? Should the look be more contemporary or traditional, and how does that influence the choice of colors and artwork? What amenities should be included in the development and what amenities can be found nearby off-site?

“The most important thing is to understand where you’re designing and who you’re designing for. That makes for a successful project,” emphasizes Meyer, who has worked 15 years for BCT and has over 25 years of design experience in the seniors housing space.

Meyer and her team applied these time-tested design principles to Brightview Hunt Valley, a 178-unit, resort-style senior living community that opened this past June in Cockeysville, Maryland, approximately 17 miles north of Baltimore. BCT served as the architect of record, taking the project from conception through construction.

Developed by Brightview Senior Living and constructed by Harkins Builders, the seven-story building offers independent living, assisted living and memory care and aims to provide a multi-generational experience for residents and families. 

The senior living community is located conveniently within Hunt Valley Towne Centre, which is anchored by Wegmans, Regal Cinemas and Home Goods. All told, the mixed-use development features over 55 retail stores, restaurants and services. A light rail system is located within the shopping complex.

In September, Brightview Hunt Valley earned LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The community features an on-site solar photovoltaic system that generates 15 percent of the building’s electricity needs directly from the sun each year. 

Other sustainability features include native plantings to protect biodiversity and local ecosystems; green roofs and bioretention for enhanced storm water management; natural daylight and views; community gardens; and electric vehicle charging stations.

Hunt Valley Towne Centre opened in 2003 on the site of the former Hunt Valley Mall, which closed (minus a few anchor stores) in 2000. The combination of the lifestyle center, the construction of multifamily properties nearby — most notably the 332-unit Avalon at Hunt Valley — and the senior living community has created a higher density, highly amenitized mixed-use region that many employers desire, according to NAIOP.

Brightview Hunt Valley’s convenient access to a variety of amenities is a win-win for the residents and their families, Meyer emphasizes. “[Independent seniors] can walk out the door and head to a movie theater, go to Panera to grab lunch with friends, or shop at the Wegmans that’s right there on-site.” 

For the assisted living and memory care residents who aren’t able-bodied enough to access the town center on their own, their families may choose to transport them there. Alternatively, families may want to visit their loved ones at the senior living community and buy groceries or head to the restaurants afterward.

The close proximity of the light rail system to Brightview Hunt Valley will likely help attract employees, Meyer believes. The community opened in June with 80 employees and the figure is expected to reach 150 when the building is fully leased, according to the Baltimore Business Journal.

Brightview Hunt Valley features dining spaces for each care level, a café, juice bar and private dining room. Other amenities include a salon, fitness center, art studio, library, theater, pub, outdoor gardens, courtyards with art displays, a fountain and gathering spaces.

Small courtyards and green spaces can be found throughout the 2.3-acre site. The building also contains over 695 art pieces.

Although a seven-screen Regal Cinemas adjacent to the site has been hosting moviegoers for several years, the newly opened Brightview Hunt Valley includes a smaller multipurpose theater used to show movies, host lectures and stage other events, points out Meyer. 

“This is a perfect example of the back-and-forth dialogue we had with Brightview related to amenities programming: Do we program for a theater, or do we let what’s outside the door become the theater for the residents?”

BCT is also working with The Wormald Cos. and SageLife on a project in Potomac, Maryland. Heritage Potomac will feature approximately 120 units of independent-style assisted living and memory care. In addition, 42 duplexes and triplexes targeting younger seniors who are active and mobile will be included in the community. Meyer expects Wormald to break ground on the project in 2025. 

“Many of our clients are working to appeal to younger residents and give them the ability to age in place and do that in a way that is a little bit different than the traditional senior living communities we have designed in the past,” says Meyer.

Meyer: Major Facelift for High-End Community

The Virginian, a 316-unit luxury rental retirement community that opened in 1980, is enjoying a new lease on life following a multiyear, $67 million renovation project. 

Situated on 32 wooded acres in Fairfax, Virginia, the property features four wings and offers a continuum of care spanning independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. 

In 2019, Focus Healthcare Partners acquired the 367,000 square-foot community, which is managed by Life Care Services. Interior renovations, led by the interior design team at Meyer, began in 2019 and were completed in 2024. During Phase I of renovations, the project team completed the award-winning Shenandoah Memory Care Community, followed by updates to The Virginian’s independent and assisted living units, common areas, dining spaces, outdoor amenities and building façade in Phase II. 

“The community was designed more than 40 years ago and since then, amenity spaces and market demands have shifted dramatically,” says Shannon Remaley, principal at Meyer. “We couldn’t leave things how they were and had to reimagine how the pieces of the puzzle would best fit together.”

In addition to aesthetic and FF&E (furniture, fixtures and equipment) improvements at The Virginian, Meyer worked closely with the project team to reprogram the community’s interior layout and energize underutilized spaces. The luxurious, hospitality-inspired lobby, for example, features a bistro with bespoke lounge seating, a brand-new grand staircase, and a custom-designed wine cellar. 

In addition, residents can now enjoy engaging amenity spaces including a technology and art studio, golf simulator and cinema. Meyer also incorporated health-centered technology into the design such as circadian rhythm lighting, a lighting design technique that mimics the natural changes in light throughout the day to help regulate the body’s circadian rhythms. 

Each of the 316 units at The Virginian were updated and reconfigured with new appliances, fixtures, and design elements to meet market demands. Part of the renovation included the design of an exclusive fifth-floor concierge level featuring upgraded finishes and in-unit amenities such as California Closets designs, smart thermostats, smartphone-controlled lights and electronic blinds. 

Remaley points out that this was an “occupied renovation” project, meaning residents were still living on-site throughout the duration of the property’s updates, posing a unique challenge for the project team.

“The Virginian demonstrates how a massive, occupied renovation project can be successful,” notes Remaley. “At the beginning of this project, we set out to elevate daily life for seniors and enhance the overall resident experience. Most importantly, the feedback from current residents and employees about the refresh has been positive.”

Ardmore, Pennsylvania-based Meyer has several senior living projects currently in the pipeline, including two of note:

• In Massachusetts, Meyer is the architect and interior designer for Cornerstone of Weymouth, a full-service independent senior living community with 147 apartments. Amenities include a pub, theater, pickleball and bocce courts, fitness center, salon, restaurant, library and coffee bar. Located about 16 miles southeast of Boston in Norfolk County, the development is set to open this December.

• Meyer is also providing architecture and interior design services for The Chelsea at West Orange, an 85-unit luxury assisted living and memory care community in West Orange, New Jersey. Capitol Seniors Housing is the developer and Chelsea Senior Living will be the operator. The community is set to open in early to mid-2025. 

LRS: Innovation Holds the Key

LRS Architects has been active in the seniors housing space since 1986 when it designed one of the pioneering assisted living projects in Oregon for owner and operator Keren Brown Wilson, who would later go on to form Assisted Living Concepts.

Chuck Archer, principal at Portland, Oregon-based LRS, says that over the next 12 to 18 months, he sees significant opportunities to design ground-up independent living projects. LRS is also exploring the potential for converting skilled nursing wings into revenue-generating units. 

“A key focus will be developing designs that align with the evolving expectations of the baby boomer generation and their desires surrounding senior living,” notes Archer. “As this demographic seeks more innovative and engaging living environments, we are excited to create spaces that meet their unique needs and preferences.

“Historically, architectural plans emphasized maximum space use versus comfort and accommodation,” he says. “For instance, designs that accommodated four residents per room used to be standard, but we are moving away from that model.”

The increased focus on outdoor amenities in senior housing today reflects a significant shift in the industry’s understanding of health and wellness, Archer believes. 

This emphasis on outdoor spaces is informed by emerging research, notably the work of Dr. George Brainard from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, who has explored the relationship between light, photoreceptors and the impact on circadian rhythms, according to Archer.

“This body of evidence highlights the vital role that natural light and outdoor environments play in enhancing well-being and overall health, marking a transformative shift in the design of senior living spaces,” notes Archer.

LRS is part of the development team for Parkview at Terwilliger Plaza in Portland. The 10-story, all-electric independent living facility features 127 units and is an expansion of the Terwilliger Plaza campus. The new building provides space for up to 250 residents, bringing the total number of residences on campus to 550.

Established in 1962, Terwilliger Plaza is a single-site, nonprofit continuing care retirement community. LRS Architects designed the $105 million expansion to the campus, working in collaboration with Walsh Construction Co., engineering firm PAE and Terwilliger Plaza. Walsh broke ground on the project in May 2021. 

The 370,000-square-foot high-rise concrete structure connects to the existing campus via a new steel skybridge, the first of its kind within a new city policy that allows bridges for senior living communities. This creates a unified development that provides intentional connection and engagement throughout Terwilliger Plaza, the development team emphasizes. 

Parkview is expected to become one of the largest Passive House-certified seniors housing facilities in the United States, according to Archer. “This achievement not only highlights our dedication to sustainability, but it also  reflects  the  growing  importance of  energy-efficient design in the senior living sector.”

Thoma-Holec: Riding a Demographic Wave

LuAnn Thoma-Holec believes the next 10 years are going to be a momentous time in senior living as the industry approaches a generational shift. According to Plante Moran Living Forward, the first baby boomers will turn 80 in 2026. From 2020 to 2040, the 80-plus population in the United States is forecast to more than double, from 13 million to 27 million.

“We are excited to design for the current resident while accounting for staff efficiencies and considering the future resident,” says Thoma-Holec, founder of her namesake company, Thoma-Holec Design. “The next 10 years are going to be very exciting. Being patient for growth is a challenge.”

Based in Mesa, Arizona, the architectural firm specializes in interior design for all segments of the seniors housing industry. Approximately one-third of the firm’s assignments currently involve new builds that have been in progress post-COVID and where the FF&E installation is now underway. The other two-thirds of assignments are CapEx projects — long-term investments in plants, buildings, technology and equipment. 

Given the pent-up demand for new construction, Thoma-Holec expects building activity to restart in 2025 if the capital markets cooperate. 

“The design and development professionals we interact with talk about the swelling need for future expansion and the shortage of housing in development. The industry as a whole is fatigued with anticipation. The more federal interest rate reductions occur and inflation costs decrease, the more fruitful new development becomes,” says the veteran executive who launched her firm in 2006.

“We are being contacted by clients in preparation for 2025, and we expect new construction to eventually return to a historically typical growth pattern in the next few years. Both occupancy and demand for seniors housing have increased, and development will follow. Staffing issues continue to be a challenge, and the potential of tariffs on products and furnishings could slow down the desire to build,” she cautions.

Aspirant Development has selected Thoma-Holec as the interior design firm for The Osborn, a planned 226-unit development in the Old Town Scottsdale neighborhood of Scottsdale, Arizona. The community will feature 118 active adult units, 74 assisted living units and 34 memory care units. 

“The project is located on an urban site (Scottsdale and Osborn roads) that has a high traffic count as well as tourist and intergenerational appeal. It will be a destination community with future flexibility for care based on resident needs,” says Keith Stanton, business director for Thoma-Holec.

What makes the project somewhat unusual is that as of now there is no independent living included in the product mix, says Stanton. “It jumps from active adult to assisted living and memory support.”

Stanton says The Osborn will feature large amenity spaces with a focus on restaurant and casual dining areas. 

Brinkmann Constructors, the project’s general contractor, is expected to break ground on The Osborn in the first quarter of 2025. The projected completion date is early 2027. Gensler Phoenix is the project architect.

Earlier this year, Thoma-Holec wrapped up an assignment as the interior designer for MorningStar at Holly Park, a new ground-up development in Centennial, Colorado, that opened in April. MorningStar Senior Living and Edgemark Development jointly developed the 160-unit, four-story luxury residential building. 

The urban infill community offers 85 suites of  independent living, as well as 50 assisted living and 25 memory care suites. The property was developed under “Whole Health Standards,” a holistic approach that applies to the latest in healthy building technologies while enhancing resident physical and mental wellness, safety, comfort and quality of life. 

MorningStar at Holly Park features an indoor pool along with a fitness and therapy center, a choice of dining venues, several private courtyards, and a rooftop club room and terrace with striking city and mountain views.

“While health and wellness have always been crucial, recent studies offer stronger evidence of the mental and physical benefits of spending time outdoors — like reduced stress, enhanced mood, better cognitive function and increased physical activity,” says Stanton.

“The pandemic further emphasized the value of outdoor spaces for social interaction and safe activities,” he points out. “With today’s technology, we can now design more effectively using insights from resident behavior, making outdoor amenities a key extension of the living environment. These spaces, supported by tailored programming, make communities more appealing to both residents and families.”

StudioSIX5: ‘Wellness’ is the watchword

Dean Maddalena, founder and principal of Austin, Texas-based StudioSIX5, anticipates an uptick in new construction in 2025 based on conversations he’s had with clients.

“With interest rates expected to decrease and the election cycle behind us, the environment will be more favorable for development. Lower interest rates will also ease the pressure on commercial real estate refinancing, which has constrained bank lending. The demand for seniors housing remains strong across all income levels, highlighting the continued need for new projects,” says Maddalena, whose full-service interior design firm is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year. 

Such a positive outlook marks a stark contrast from the past few years wherein a combination of factors — uncertainty in the market, persistently high interest rates, a pullback in lending from banks and elevated construction costs — contributed to sharp slowdown in new construction, according to Maddalena.

The clients of StudioSIX5 continue to strategically plan projects, waiting for the right moment to move forward, says the 25-year industry veteran. 

“REITs, using cash reserves, remain active in new construction and have not slowed their pace,” observes Maddalena. “Meanwhile, existing communities are leveraging cash on hand to finance renovations, upgrading their assets to stay competitive with both newly built and future developments.”

Currently, the firm’s work is evenly split between new construction and renovations, according to Maddalena. “This balanced focus allows us to meet the growing demand for both new developments and the revitalization of existing communities.”

This year, StudioSIX5 completed the installation process (furniture, furnishings lighting, technology and more) at The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg, Maryland, a northwest suburb of Washington, D.C. The seven-story complex offers 302 spacious one- and two-bedroom independent living, assisted living and memory care residences. 

Kisco Senior Living, the owner and operator of The Carnegie at Washingtonian Center, developed the property in partnership with Welltower (NYSE: WELL). 

The Carnegie offers a comprehensive wellness-focused program, promoting education, self-care, nutrition and connection with the surrounding community. Its prime location provides residents with convenient access to retail, dining, cultural events, outdoor activities and entertainment.

A concierge-level service is available for those on the exclusive Club Living floor, which offers upgraded finishes and special benefits, including valet parking, access to a personal trainer, dog walking services and a monthly Chef’s Table dinner.

“The community’s interior design, featuring a blend of tailored minimalism and warm wood tones, enhances a wide array of amenity spaces,” says Maddalena. “These thoughtfully designed areas invite residents to explore new passions — from recording podcasts to creating pottery — while living their fullest, most vibrant lives.”

Chancey: ‘Significant pent-up demand’

Chancey Architecture & Interior Design has been operating for 35 years and currently has a team of 30 employees. Based in Tampa Bay, Florida, the firm’s journey into the seniors housing sector began nearly 30 years ago with its first project for Watermark Retirement Services. Today, its focus is primarily on independent living and assisted living facilities, including memory care communities. 

Founded in 1999, Chancey Development specializes in creating seniors housing projects, high-rise condos, mixed-use developments and new urbanist neighborhoods across the country.

Walt Chancey, founder and senior managing partner of Chancey Architecture, says he anticipates the industry will see more ground-up development in 2025 compared with 2024. “Factors such as recent and upcoming relief in interest rates, combined with significant pent-up demand, are likely to encourage developers to initiate entitlement, design and pre-construction activities. As a result, we expect new project starts to increase in the latter half of the year.”

One of the firm’s biggest challenges in the seniors housing sector today is maintaining high-quality design and amenity offerings while keeping costs aligned with project pro formas, says Chancey. 

“We focus on using straightforward structural systems to reduce expenses and thoroughly analyze mechanical and electrical systems for cost-effective solutions. Our team is skilled at selecting interior finishes, products and furnishings that are both visually appealing and durable, ensuring optimal value. Additionally, we excel at minimizing unnecessary space, maximizing square footage without compromising the overall experience for residents,” says the veteran executive.

On the project front, Chancey is the architect and interior designer for Watermark at Watercolor Place, a new development featuring 196 licensed units for independent living, assisted living and memory care in Manatee County, Florida, just north of Lakewood Ranch. Chancey is a development partner with BRW on this project, marking their ninth collaboration on a ground-up seniors housing project in the last 12 years. Construction is set to begin in the second quarter of 2025. The target completion date is spring 2027.

Chancey is bullish on this project. “The development encapsulates everything we’ve learned in the seniors housing sector, making it particularly significant for us.”

— Matt Valley

This article was originally published in the October-November issue of Seniors Housing Business magazine.

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