Last year, Environments for Aging launched the Design Champions awards to recognize the individual efforts that so often contribute to a project’s success as a whole. Now in its second year, the program continues to offer a unique look behind the scenes at the important work being done to continue this sector’s ongoing evolution.

The online nomination process began in late winter and wrapped up this spring, bringing with it stories of architects, interior designers, owners/operators, consultants, and more who are serving as champions for what senior living can and should be. We were seeking individuals who, specifically, contributed to the advancement of senior living environments within the past two years and who effected meaningful change in the lives of residents, staff, and/or the greater community.

In the end, the editors chose five winners whose efforts stood out from the rest, their recent work capturing the promise that senior living holds. Their efforts include answering new resident desires in innovative ways, recognizing the importance of operations and integrating it within design, and considering what the future holds and how new housing models will be critical going forward.

In the links below, find profiles of these five professionals and Q+As covering their recent contributions to senior living design.

2019 EFA Design Champions

Vassar Byrd, CEO, Rose Villa Senior Living

Gene Guszkowski, CEO, AG Architecture

Matthew Smith, associate, SmithGroup

Rose M. Saenz, development director, Pi Architects

Harry Hobson, CEO, Plymouth Harbor on Sarasota Bay 

The winners will be celebrated during EFA’s annual awards luncheon taking place at the 2020 Environments for Aging Expo & Conference in Louisville, Ky. Congratulations to all!

Jennifer Kovacs Silvis is editor-in-chief of Environments for Aging. She can be reached at jennifer.silvis@emeraldexpo.com.