Environments for Aging - Spring 2024 - 96

design outlook
Collegiate life
JP Emery of Ankrom Moisan talks about designing Aegis Living Laurelhurst
near University of Washington's Seatt le campus by Anne DiNardo
A
EGIS LIVING Laurelhurst is under construction
in Seattle's Laurelhurst neighborhood
near the University of Washington
(UW) campus. Ankrom Moisan,
the architects and interior designers for
the project, took inspiration from the university's
architecture and the desire to connect residents
with the community at large to drive planning
and design strategies. Slated to open in spring
2024, the six-story mixed-use building will feature
135 units for assisted living and memory care
residents, a sky lounge, 1,300 square feet of commercial
space, and an outdoor plaza open to the
neighborhood. Here, architect JP Emery, principal
at Ankrom Moisan (Seattle), discusses the
project team's approach and designing to support
residents' desire for choice and variety.
How did the project's location near the
UW campus infl uence the design?
It is important to acknowledge the unique identity
of the neighborhoods senior communities are
in, as you tend to draw a large number of aging
residents directly from that neighborhood. Th e
architectural style and interior spaces designed
here reference the historic " collegiate gothic "
features of the University of Washington such as
limestone-clad three-pointed arched entrances
on the ground fl oor. Interior design features reinforce
this, as well, including relites accented with
branched tracery millwork at the main entry.
What strategies did you use to bring
residents and the neighborhood together ?
Th e City of Seattle's guidelines for the development
of this site encourage commercial uses on
the ground fl oor, which is intended to create active
and lively street environments. To provide
a high-quality environment for the residents,
Aegis Living is dedicating its ground fl oor primarily
to resident amenity spaces such as the
dining room, activity room, and lobby. Additionally,
we're locating a neighborhood-scale café
at a prominent corner of the community that
will be open to the public and creating an outdoor
space with a playground for families in the
neighborhood. We see this kind of shared public-private
outdoor space as being an incredible
benefi t both to the neighborhood and residents
of this community.
How does the community accommodate
couples with diff ering care needs?
Th is community has a variety of options to enable
that to occur. There are many small single-occupancy
units, and, in some cases, couples
will live in diff erent units according to their
ability but will be able to spend time together in
shared community spaces. Additionally, a transitional
care unit area will balance the needs of
residents/couples who are not yet experiencing
profound needs but still would benefit from
more than what is provided in traditional assisted
living. Finally, there are some larger units that
can target couples who wish to live together in a
more traditional apartment setting.
What trends do you anticipate shaping
senior living design in the future?
Today's seniors prize personalization, choice,
and variety. Successful communities will give
residents the freedom to live and socialize how
they choose. They also want to remain a vital
part of society, not isolated from it. An enriching
community in a vibrant neighborhood makes
this possible.
96 | spring 2024
efamagazine.com
COURTESY OF ANKROM MOISAN
http://www.efamagazine.com
Environments for Aging - Spring 2024

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