CHICAGO—As reported yesterday in GlobeSt.com, the aging of the US population has touched off a flurry of new construction in the senior housing sector. A new group of developers has taken part in this expansion, and many have sought to differentiate their product by bringing in concepts and designs typically found in luxury rental buildings or hotels.  

“There has been a shift in the thought process when it comes to these communities,” Chuck Taylor, director of operations for commercial general contractor Englewood Construction, tells GlobeSt.com. A few years ago, his company was well known for its work in the retail and hospitality sectors. But recently, an investment group wanted to give its senior housing properties a hospitality vibe, and brought in Lemont, IL-based Englewood to supply “a fresh approach.”

“They don't want these communities to look like stodgy old folks' homes,” he adds, so the jobs involve more than new paint and touch-ups. Although older, many residents “are still very active people,” and crave spaces where they can socialize, whether it's a bar, hotel-style lounge, community garden, fire pit or walking path. “You need something more than a big, brightly lit bingo hall.”

And the results of this new trend can be seen in developments across the US.

At Travanse Living at Olathe, an assisted-living development in Olathe, KS, built by CA Senior Living, the senior housing division of Chicago-based CA Ventures, residents enjoy shared amenities that range from a spa, fitness center and therapy gym, to a movie theater/chapel, library, craft room, teaching kitchen and tech center.

“In terms of marketing, it's similar to student housing in that you're selling a lifestyle ‒ instead of targeting the future resident and their parents, it's typically the future resident and their children,” says John Dempsey, principal, CA Senior Living.   

David Kennedy, principal at Chicago-based KTGY Architecture + Planning, agrees that adult children have come to play a significant role. “After consulting with their children, seniors tend to gravitate toward communities that feel less institutional and more like home,” he says. “Even assisted living communities are being designed in a way that makes essential healthcare features less visible, such as wearable nurse-call systems instead of emergency pull-down cords.” 

The growing desire for luxurious amenities has also led some developers to renovate existing properties, including former hotels, into senior housing. “The footprint of a hotel is very similar to a senior housing community – from the entrance and common areas, to the layout of individual units, many of which already include a small kitchen or kitchenette,” says Rick Whitney, principal of FitzGerald Associates Architects, which in 2016 helped convert the former Bollero Hotel in Palatine, IL, into The Grand at Twin Lakes, a senior-oriented housing development.

CHICAGO—As reported yesterday in GlobeSt.com, the aging of the US population has touched off a flurry of new construction in the senior housing sector. A new group of developers has taken part in this expansion, and many have sought to differentiate their product by bringing in concepts and designs typically found in luxury rental buildings or hotels.  

“There has been a shift in the thought process when it comes to these communities,” Chuck Taylor, director of operations for commercial general contractor Englewood Construction, tells GlobeSt.com. A few years ago, his company was well known for its work in the retail and hospitality sectors. But recently, an investment group wanted to give its senior housing properties a hospitality vibe, and brought in Lemont, IL-based Englewood to supply “a fresh approach.”

“They don't want these communities to look like stodgy old folks' homes,” he adds, so the jobs involve more than new paint and touch-ups. Although older, many residents “are still very active people,” and crave spaces where they can socialize, whether it's a bar, hotel-style lounge, community garden, fire pit or walking path. “You need something more than a big, brightly lit bingo hall.”

And the results of this new trend can be seen in developments across the US.

At Travanse Living at Olathe, an assisted-living development in Olathe, KS, built by CA Senior Living, the senior housing division of Chicago-based CA Ventures, residents enjoy shared amenities that range from a spa, fitness center and therapy gym, to a movie theater/chapel, library, craft room, teaching kitchen and tech center.

“In terms of marketing, it's similar to student housing in that you're selling a lifestyle ‒ instead of targeting the future resident and their parents, it's typically the future resident and their children,” says John Dempsey, principal, CA Senior Living.   

David Kennedy, principal at Chicago-based KTGY Architecture + Planning, agrees that adult children have come to play a significant role. “After consulting with their children, seniors tend to gravitate toward communities that feel less institutional and more like home,” he says. “Even assisted living communities are being designed in a way that makes essential healthcare features less visible, such as wearable nurse-call systems instead of emergency pull-down cords.” 

The growing desire for luxurious amenities has also led some developers to renovate existing properties, including former hotels, into senior housing. “The footprint of a hotel is very similar to a senior housing community – from the entrance and common areas, to the layout of individual units, many of which already include a small kitchen or kitchenette,” says Rick Whitney, principal of FitzGerald Associates Architects, which in 2016 helped convert the former Bollero Hotel in Palatine, IL, into The Grand at Twin Lakes, a senior-oriented housing development.