An environment where residents don’t have to compromise their interests, hobbies, and beloved California lifestyle is the plan for a new assisted living project coming to San Jose, California. Plans for a “dynamic and relevant” assisted living facility in the heart of tech-savvy, innovation-loving Silicon Valley were created by BCA Architects, a design firm headquartered in San Jose, and recently received unanimous approval from the San Jose City Council and Planning Commission. Construction on the $25 million facility, as yet unnamed, will begin this fall with completion scheduled for fall 2015.
So what does BCA have in mind for the new facility? “Baby boomers are, by nature, continual learners,” notes BCA’s president Paul Bunton, AIA, “and studies have shown that if seniors can continue to learn, they will live longer.” Hence, the location for the new facility is close to a community college that offers a continuing-education program. In addition, a “distance learning” classroom will be included within the assisted living space in order to help residents keep their minds active and thereby extend their quality of life. The property is also located directly across from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, which is convenient for medical appointments and emergencies. A shuttle service will provide transportation to a nearby shopping center. And since Californians of all ages traditionally incorporate outdoor activities into their everyday routine, the new San Jose facility will feature a resident-run garden.
Ridgeline Management Company of Eugene, Oregon—one of three developer/operators being considered for the project—specializes in retirement, assisted living, and memory care and currently operates 17 communities in 10 states. Ridgeline owner Chuck McGlad, MD, looks to build environments that nurture individual expression and growth. “With baby boomers entering the assisted living market,” he explains, “we need to create spaces that allow both boomers and their families to continue the active lifestyles to which they are accustomed.” He further maintains that future designs will not reflect today’s typical assisted living home “with a bingo room and a library. Rather, the facility should create a culture in which residents can thrive and spaces where we envision our own families wanting to reside.” Dr. McGlad’s philosophy seems to fit neatly with BCA’s own vision.
