FIRST LOOK: Aegis Gardens
Ankrom Moisan Architects
Lit with nearly 100 Chinese lanterns, the main dining room will be peaceful and comfortable. The attached kitchen will feature specialty equipment such as a duck oven to prepare traditional Chinese meals.
Ankrom Moisan Architects
Located along the shores of Lake Boren, this luxury senior living community will offer a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.
Ankrom Moisan Architects
The “testimonial walk” connecting the main building to the community center is meant to be much more than a passageway—the space will encourage resident interaction through events like history lessons or concerts in the outside amphitheater.
Ankrom Moisan Architects
Authentic, found items are incorporated throughout the property, including this moon door at the entry to the wellness center. The design also includes an herbal apothecary display at the end of the hallway.
Ankrom Moisan Architects
Double-high windows in the lobby filter sunlight into the community while offering views of the reflecting gardens. A central two-story lit onyx lantern will create a warm glow from within.
There are more than 90,000 Chinese Americans living within 25 miles of Newcastle, Wash., and 30,000 are within seven miles. Based on a similar, successful project in Northern California, Aegis Living recognized the demand for a senior living community that appeals to the needs and culture of this growing—and aging—population.
Aegis Gardens is a new senior housing development that will incorporate Chinese culture into its design to create a welcoming place for long-term residential care.
Research of this population’s values, core beliefs, familial ties, and connections to nature heavily influenced the design process.
The design team from Ankrom Moisan Architects needed to capture the Chinese design aesthetic to make a truly authentic experience. Through this research, an understanding of the complexities of the ancient philosophy of Feng Shui was also integrated into the design in order to meet the expectations of future residents.
The five-story, 128,000-square-foot senior living community will offer multiple common spaces such as tea rooms, shared family cooking areas, an outdoor amphitheater, and a separate Asian cultural/community building to inspire resident connections.
A wellness center includes massage rooms, a pool, fitness areas, and a beauty salon. On-site childcare services will give grandparents the opportunity to visit with their grandchildren, and a central Zen garden will double as a peaceful retreat and a hobby space for those with a green thumb.
To add to the culturally inspired design, traditional Chinese pastimes such as mahjong, calligraphy, and tai chi will be offered to residents.
The development will serve assisted living and memory care residents, and the property will employ staff fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, providing 24-hour care. The building will have a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments.
The expected completion date is summer 2017.
