Master planning is like knowing in advance where all the pieces go before you start the puzzle. More precisely, it is a vision and a road map built from the information and optics of a community’s operations, market needs and standards, and cost realities that must all be harmoniously combined with inspiration.

Make no mistake. While master planning builds on what has and hasn’t worked in the past and uses these to create a strategy and a template for success, this is by no means a rubber stamp or a cookie-cutter approach to design. With master planning, you save the time, money, and challenges involved in trying to reinvent the wheel for every project. However, the wheel remains unique for each building.

Inflation and interest rates remain high, but there are still ways to build without breaking the bank. Reusing successful designs is one solution that can save time and money, but don’t think that means you can’t have a building with its unique look and personality. We sat down with Jeff Mock, Vice President of Clancy & Theys, to talk about how to make use of design standardization and prototypes.

On the west coast of southern Florida, there’s a vibrant and buzzing community of seniors at Verena at Delray. The renovation and redesign of the building was an opportunity to make the atmosphere reflect the energy of the residents. From jazz band concerts to poker nights, this community is lively and dynamic in its social activity.

In collaboration with True Connection Communities and the Green Courte development team, Pi Architects determined that the interiors of the existing building needed help with functionality and intentional design that reflected how residents truly used the space, and in some cases, whether they used certain spaces at all.

Zach Bowyer, MAI, MRICS, senior managing director, valuation & advisory/living sectors at C&W, told Pi, “Our same-store valuation data does suggest year-over-year improvement in operating margins, which is a combination of improved occupancy, rent growth, and improving labor market. However, continued innovations in technology, healthcare provider partnerships and building envelope will be required in order to regain pre-COVID operating margins.”

Pi Architects agrees a design prototype brings all the players together and puts them on the same page, using proven data and experiences to enhance scheduling, costs, roles, and accountability. New clients can tour existing communities created using a similar template/prototype. “It’s like walking through a model home. Clients can visit an existing community and see what they are getting,” said Mark Warrick, Vice President of Pi Architects.

Senior living is much more complex, varied, and creative than ever, and residents and their families expect diverse and numerous amenities. Innovation and flexibility are keys to thriving in this evolving market, and both come into play with the successful integration of independent living into assisted living, the topic of a recent TALAHour webinar hosted by Misty Powell, Chief Program Officer/Co-Founder of Civitas Senior Living, and Greg Hunteman, President of Pi Architects. The two hosts, both TALA members and frequent collaborators on several projects, talked about the different models of integration, the advantages and challenges of each, and how to make them successful for the needs of residents, community operations, and cost-effectiveness.

For the Capstone at Centerra Assisted Living and Memory Care, familiarity is a key element of the community’s success. Throughout the design process, the local history and atmosphere of Loveland, CO, was kept front and center. The result is a stunning new assisted living and memory care community that pairs a rustic agrarian atmosphere with timeless simplicity, forming a love letter to its hometown.

In today’s fast-moving world of trends, it can be difficult and overwhelming to understand, much less implement, the latest style into one’s life.  The world of Interior Design is no different in that trends move fast and can be somewhat hard to identify.  Individuals who what to update can be left feeling lost on what to do unless they want to adopt a very particular style where the rules are clear.  Design styles such as French County, English Cottage, Southwestern, etc. can look great when well executed, but can also make designers and decorators feel like they need to choose pieces that fit neatly within boundaries, therefore hindering creativity or personalizing a space. 

Predicting the future takes more than some educated guesses and creative thinking. Looking into the future of senior living means taking a fresh and insightful look at a new generation of older adults -- individuals with their own experiences, challenges, concerns, goals, interests, and demands.

Pi sat down with Bryon Cohron, vice president, of market analysis and business development at ProMatura, to talk about how senior living design is evolving to meet the needs of seniors tomorrow and 10 and 20 years down the road.

 The Atlantic Hurricane season peaks on September 10th, and so far this season has been kind. As we approach September, it means we are preparing for strong storms and hoping for the best, including senior living owners and operators.   However, even if hurricanes are not a concern for you, natural disasters are happening more frequently everywhere, and everyone needs to be prepared.

Sage Vally Senior Living, nestled in the historic town of Pflugerville, Texas opened with excitement and grand style this past spring. Pi Architects attended the event to witness their hard work and diligence. “We worked to tie it (the building) into the history of Texas and wove some fun and joyful memories and stories into the building”, exclaimed Mark Warrick, AIA, vice president of Pi.

Like so many aspects of senior living, pools have evolved. No longer are these just for lounging or swimming. Increasingly, the design and features of a pool and the surroundings are carefully thought out and planned or can result in an expensive unused, and high-maintenance amenity that does little to attract prospects. Before making an investment in a pool, communities need to determine how residents want to use the amenity and what features or accessories will be needed.

According to NIC, senior living occupancy was up 30 basis points in the first quarter of 2023. While the industry isn’t back in full force yet, there clearly is a need to put effort into creating cutting-edge communities of the future. When new buildings aren’t possible or practical, many owners/operators are looking to reposition.

As Active Adult communities continue to gain popularity they require innovative design elements and amenities to appeal to this population of seniors who aren’t ready for a sedentary lifestyle. They need to include an array of amenities that will attract residents who have physical and mental health and wellness as top priorities.

Breathing fresh air into an older property or project through repositioning effectively attracts and retains residents and staff in a competitive market. When done with attention and purpose, making choices with repositioning in mind can help make a difference when boosting tours and move-ins.

Repositioning is expanding a person’s understanding of a product or space and highlighting what makes us different while opening up new ideas.