Senior Living
From retirement communities to multigenerational urban high rises, we combine hospitality, residential, and mixed-use expertise to design memorable experiences and living spaces that offer more choice for active older adults.
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We expect to see more integration of seniors housing and affinity-based housing into mixed-use developments, college campuses, and other connected communities, where older adults get social opportunities from being around more people of their own age, but also the enjoyment of being around all generations.
—JP Emery, Senior Living leader
27 Items
La Posada at Pusch Ridge
Oro Valley, Arizona
La Posada at Pusch Ridge is a senior living community designed to embrace the natural environment and enrich the life experience of its active adult users.
Confidential Senior Living Community
Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
This confidential Guangzhou project transforms an historic heritage site into a uniquely integrated senior living community that adapts to the needs of China’s fast-growing aging population.
Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities is a new 20-floor, 150-unit luxury senior living residence designed by Gensler that is located in downtown Lancaster.
Confidential Independent and Assisted Care Facility
Calimesa, California
The design of this full-service retirement community is highly focused on providing resort-style amenities for an aging population.
Town Hall Apartments
Chicago, Illinois
This mixed-use senior housing facility is an adaptive reuse of the historic Town Hall police station and provides affordable housing for senior LGBTQ residents.
Fountainview at Gonda Westside
Playa Vista, California
Gensler designed Fountainview at Gonda Westside to be a luxury retirement community for active, independent living.
Windsor at Celebration
Celebration, Florida
Windsor at Celebration Senior Living provides unique offerings that culminate in a truly life-changing experience for those celebrating their golden years.
Alzheimer’s Association
Houston, Texas
With the goal of creating a new home that would be an oasis of calm and healing, the Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association engaged
Urban Awning
Los Angeles, California
Urban Awning is a new constructional, environmental, and social model of affordable and supportive housing designed by Gensler.
The Hub on Causeway
Boston, Massachusetts
In collaboration with Boston Properties and Delaware North Companies, Gensler designed The Hub on Causeway — a mixed-use development at the Boston Garden.
Suzhou Zhongnan Center
Suzhou, China
Upon its completion, the Suzhou Zhongnan Center will stand at 499 meters tall, offering impressive views of Jinji Lake and Suzhou's skyline.
OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center
Columbus, Ohio
The Neuroscience Wellness Center at OhioHealth is envisioned as a place for a community of users to take charge of their recovery process.
Tipner West
Portsmouth, United Kingdom
The most ambitious expansion to the city of Portsmouth in over a century, Tipner Peninsular is being transformed into an exemplar maritime community that will set a new standard for sustainable living and working with health and wellbeing at its core.
Hyatt House Kanazawa
Ishikawa, Japan
Inspired by the design concept of Kaga-ism, the Hyatt House Kanazawa hotel reflects the local Hokuriku area lifestyle, craftsmanship, and aesthetic senses, along with a way of living in harmony with nature.
Jewish Colorado
Denver, Colorado
In reimagining its organization, JEWISHcolorado’s primary objectives were to revitalize its impact within the community and attract new generations of members and volunteers. The non-profit's space was transformed to celebrate its most valuable asset: its people.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
London, UK
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice (NACH) is the only children’s community-based hospice providing support for babies, children, and young people with...
Oakwood Shores Redevelopment Plan
Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Housing Authority commissioned Gensler to develop a 15-year vision for Oakwood Shores, a mixed-income housing site located on the city’s South Side.
HarborChase of Prince William Commons
Woodbridge, Virginia
Combining meaningful care with classic sophistication, HarborChase at Prince William Commons is an active aging community offering residences for...
HarborChase of Fairfax
Fairfax, Virginia
HarborChase of Fairfax is a planned community occupying 1.3 acres within an existing 56-acre mixed use development. Situated on a sloping site within an...
Mariposa - Discovery Senior Living
Lake Worth, Florida
Mariposa - Discovery Senior Living sets a new standard in, taking cues from the hospitality industry on what it means to live well, relax, and restore.
Portman Ritz-Carlton
Shanghai, China
To honor its legacy as an epicenter for commerce and business, and its pedigree as the first foreign luxury hotel in China, Gensler restored the Portman...
Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel
Berkeley, California
The Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel is a Berkeley landmark, boasting 22 acres of lush landscaping and club facilities. In honor of its centennial...
Star Clinic and Housing for Health Office
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services’ new Housing for Health program aims to house 10,000 of the county’s most vulnerable homeless people in the...
Grand Hyatt Incheon
Incheon, South Korea
The Grand Hyatt Incheon serves as a premier venue for international conferences and business meetings in Northeast Asia. Looking to double the size of the...
River Oaks District
Houston, Texas
A lesson in placemaking, the River Oaks District is transforming the nature of mixed-use retail and dining destinations in Houston.
Scottsdale Healthcare Thompson Peak Hospital Healing Garden
Scottsdale, Arizona
Gensler designed this new healing garden to evoke feelings of well-being, provide places for serenity and rejuvenation, and impart visitors with a sense of...
Willowbrook MLK Wellness Community
Los Angeles, California
Willowbrook MLK Wellness Community is a broad-based health and wellness center that seeks to transform medical care and health services in its South Los Angeles community.
RESEARCH & INSIGHTS
Blog
How a New Vision for Flexible Co-Living Conversions Can Support Housing Affordability
Gensler and The Pew Charitable Trusts studied building typologies in 10 cities to better understand the potential in this unique office-to-residential conversion model.
Blog
Age-Welcoming Cities: Designing for an Era of Longevity
The challenge of a rapidly aging population also presents an opportunity: to reimagine how we plan our cities.
Blog
Reimagining Care in the Heart of Our Cities
An innovative intergenerational care concept seeks to transform how we support caregivers while revitalizing underutilized commercial spaces.
Blog
Designing for Flexibility in Senior Community Amenities
New insights in programming activities for tomorrow’s seniors will lead to the design of flexible, reconfigurable spaces and increased engagement.
Blog
Trends to Watch Shaping the Future of Senior Living Design
Gensler’s regional Northwest Senior Living leader discusses new housing models, amenities, and other opportunities shaping the future of senior living design
Insight
Multigenerational Design
Generational shifts are reshaping design in workplaces, cities, and communities to create spaces that engage and support multiple generations.
Blog
Quantity and Quality: Leveraging Office-to-Senior Living Conversions to Increase Capacity and Lifelong Well-being
Office-to-residential conversions have helped reduce vacancy rates and unlock housing. It’s time to repurpose the solution to meet the growing demand for senior living.
Blog
Design as a Superpower in the Senior Living Industry
Excellent design of senior living facilities prioritizes well-being in ways that should be automatic for all types of design.
Blog
Designing for Ageless Communities
Increased longevity changes not only the way we need to deliver and receive care but also how we think about the future of living, and working.
Blog
Equity and Aging in the 20-Minute City
By designing spaces that prioritize universal design principles and connectivity, we can create more accessible, purposeful places for seniors.
Blog
Defining Active Adult: A Promising Housing Model for an Active Aging Future
Active Adult is a rapidly evolving topic in response to the challenges facing the senior living industry.
Blog
Why It’s Time to Reframe the Conversation Around Senior Living
New Gensler research demystifies myths about aging and offers creative solutions for communities that are currently not built to support older people.
Research
Beyond Senior Living: Designing Communities for Inclusion
We investigated how to create new business models and ecosystems that create enticing, safe, and alternative housing for an age diverse population.
Blog
Designing Innovative Pathways to Affordable Housing in Los Angeles
Gensler’s Roger Sherman discusses affordable housing pathways, multigenerational living, co-living solutions, and more.
Blog
An Opportunity to Unlock Value for Underutilized Assets: Office Conversions for Senior Living
In the race to convert vacant office buildings, developers should consider senior living.
Trends in Senior Living
Cities repurpose vacant commercial space into intergenerational care centers.
Adaptive reuse and building conversions help cities transform empty commercial spaces into vibrant centers that foster community connection. By combining daycare, elder care, and wellness programs, these hubs revitalize urban cores and ease the burden on “sandwich generation” professionals who are taking care of children and aging parents.
Extreme weather and climate risks reshape senior living design.
Since evacuation is often not feasible, senior living communities are built to withstand extreme weather and ensure safety during disasters. Emergency-ready infrastructure — including refuge spaces equipped with backup heating, cooling, lighting, and food preparation systems powered by on-site renewable power and battery storage — protects vulnerable populations and safeguards continuity of care.
Advanced technology and robotics reimagine aging-in-place.
Advanced technologies drive changes to senior living spaces. Designs must be more flexible to accommodate autonomous mobility aids, AI-based passive health and wellness monitoring, and automated emergency call systems. These innovations extend independence, reduce labor strain, and facilitate aging-in-place models.
SENIOR LIVING LEADERSHIP
Brooks Howell
Senior Living Leader, Principal
Brooks Howell is a Senior Living Leader with more than 20 years of experience leading mixed-use, residential, retail, and hospitality projects of every scale.
NEWS
In The Media
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KPRC
KPRC Hosted an Interview With Senior Living Leader Brooks Howell on Gensler’s Office-to-Co-Living Research
Howell discussed the firm’s partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts and the opportunity to convert office spaces into affordable micro-apartments in Houston.
February 13, 2025
In The Media
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Houston Chronicle
Factors Impacting the Profitability of Office-to-Residential Conversions
As Houston considers tax incentives to spur office conversions, Senior Living Leader Brooks Howell and Residential Leader Kelly Farrell discussed how developers need to balance project costs with expected revenue.
February 19, 2024
In The Media
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Architect Magazine
OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center Wins the 2023 AIA National Healthcare Design Awards
The AIA Academy of Architecture for Health’s annual awards recognizes designs that “help solve aesthetic, civic, urban, and social problems while also being functional and sustainable.”
July 17, 2023
In The Media
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Lancaster Online
Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities Extends the Energy of Downtown Lancaster
Design Director Lester Yuen highlighted the opportunity to restore life and community in designing Mosaic, a 55+ senior living high-rise building in Lancaster, Penn.
January 31, 2023
In The Media
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Building Design
Building Design Ranked Gensler the #1 Firm on Its 2023 World Architecture 100 Survey
Gensler also ranked #1 in Hospitality, Mixed Use, Offices, Retail, Science & Technology, Senior Living, Sports, and Transportation.
January 23, 2023
In The Media
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Phoenix Business Journal
The Wave of Urban Infill Senior Living Development Is Just Starting
Phoenix Business Journal cited Gensler’s research in an article about anticipated growth in the need for senior living facilities with walkable access to retail and amenities.
October 24, 2022
In The Media
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LGBTQ Nation
Chicago’s Town Hall Apartments at the Center on Halsted Help Meet the Needs of Older LGBTQ Adults
The apartments, designed by Gensler, support senior citizens and offer convenient access to Chicago’s LGBTQ community center.
October 11, 2022
In The Media
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The McMorrow Reports
10 Healthcare and Senior Living Trends Driving Design Strategies
The McMorrow Reports shared healthcare and senior living trends driving design strategies, based on insights from Gensler’s Design Forecast.
May 06, 2022
In The Media
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Architizer
OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center Is a “One-of-a-Kind Destination” for People Living With Neurologic Conditions
Architizer spotlights the OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center, designed by Gensler, empowers its community to take charge of their recovery process.
May 01, 2021
In The Media
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Healthcare Design Magazine
Healthcare Design Magazine Takes a Virtual Tour of the OhioHealth Neuroscience Wellness Center
The Neuroscience Wellness Center, designed by Gensler, embraces its surrounding landscape in a calm, bucolic space that allows members to focus on wellness and holistic health.
April 19, 2021