A $211 million senior housing development is coming to Issaquah, Washington — about 17 miles southeast of Seattle.

Senior housing developer The Springs Living of Beaverton broke ground June 3 on a five-story, 329,250-square-foot building at 850 Eighth Ave. N.E. in the suburb. The Springs at Issaquah Highlands will hold 225 apartments — 114 for independent living, 84 for assisted living and 27 for memory care. There will be one story of parking partially below grade.

The project is a joint venture of The Springs Living, co-developer PMB of Solana Beach, California, and alternative investment firm Harrison Street Asset Management.

Mackenzie and GBD Architects partnered to design the project; Mackenzie is also the civil engineer. Exxel Pacific of Bellingham, Washington is the general contractor. Other contributions include structural engineering by KPFF, landscape architecture by Lango Hansen, MEP Basis of Design by Interface Engineering, mechanical and plumbing design/build by Ocean Park Mechanical of Tukwila, Washington, lighting design by Biella Lighting Design, and electrical design/build by Bergelectric, which is based in Carlsbad, California.

“With shared values, a strong focus on client needs, and a commitment to the communities our designs serve, Mackenzie and GBD view this partnership as a strategic union of our expertise and local knowledge, designed to meet the project’s specific needs,” Mackenzie architect and principal Steve Rupert stated in an email. “Together, we have intentionally identified key personnel with the correct skill sets to deliver our promise: a fun, engaging design process, clear documentation, and a team that will stay by the client’s side through project completion.”

This is the first collaboration between the two firms, but with hope there will be more, Rupert stated.

Both firms have a commitment to thoughtful design, strong client relationships, and creating places that matter, GBD Architects principal Craig Mendenhall stated in an email.

“By bringing together the strengths of both firms, we’re able to approach the project from multiple perspectives while staying focused on a common goal: delivering a solution that reflects the client’s vision and serves the community well,” he stated.

The development is designed to reflect the character of the Issaquah Highlands neighborhood and its walkable access to parks and trails. The community’s location adjacent to the Swedish Issaquah medical campus reflects The Springs Living’s long-term vision for deeper integration with healthcare systems, creating greater alignment between housing, care, and access to services over time, Rupert stated.

Warm, natural materials will be paired with refined urban elements to create a welcoming residential environment. Building materials will include artisan brick, while natural wood accents introduce warmth and human scale. Board-formed concrete, black metal detailing, and a balanced composition of light and dark fiber-cement panels will add depth, texture and durability, ensuring the building will age gracefully over time, according to GBD Architects. Perforated metal screening will be integrated into the structured parking areas, incorporating artistic expression that reflects the character of the community.

The interior design will capture the feel of a modern rustic lodge and include stone and solid materials to anchor spaces. Light, airy spaces will be balanced by rich, warm wood elements. Communal hearth space will include big, comfy chairs where residents can relax, GBD Architects shared. There will also be outdoor-inspired elements like continuous flooring and overhead planes.

The building will be anchored by a signature water feature, a refined porte cochere, and a bright, lodge-style lobby. Neighborhood-inspired layouts were chosen for upper floors. A secure memory care wing will have outdoor areas, including a garden.

Other outdoor areas will include an assisted living courtyard, an independent living courtyard, a rooftop deck offering outdoor activities, and a wine lounge.

Indoor amenities will include an art room, a theater, dining venues, a pool, and a fitness center.

Staff spaces, including break rooms and kitchens, will be located along the building’s perimeter, with access to natural light.

The project team plans to pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold and Fitwel certifications.

The new community is expected to open in late 2028.

Design Beyond Borders is a 91��Ƶ feature offering a look at the projects outside of Oregon and Southwest Washington being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, email the 91��Ƶ news staff at newsroom@djcOregon.com.

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Project name: Wecoma Place

Location: Lincoln City

Completion: June 2024

Size: 35,155 square feet

Owner/Developer: Stewardship Development

Architect: Otak

Engineers: Froelich Engineers, Humber Design Group, MFIA,

General Contractor: Walsh Construction

Submitting Company: Otak

Other Key Participants: Oregon Housing and Community Services, Housing Authority of Lincoln County

Subcontractors: Absolute Construction Services, Academy Specialties, Aleman’s Flooring, Browns Architectural Sheet Metal, Buffalo Welding, Gormley Plumbing + Mechanical, Inland Electric, PONO Building Consultants, Sign Wizards, Teragan & Associates

A new affordable housing development is bringing relief to residents displaced by the 2020 Echo Mountain Fire, overcoming significant site challenges to provide much-needed homes on Oregon’s coast.

Wecoma Place, a 44-unit development in Lincoln County, provides apartments at 56 percent and 30 percent Area Median Income levels, primarily serving seniors who lost homes in the devastating wildfire that struck the region four years ago. The building’s design draws inspiration from the coastal landscape, featuring three distinct masses resembling geomorphic beach formations. Exterior siding incorporates patterns reflecting the region’s wind-swept grasses, integrating the structure with its surroundings.

The project stands out for its innovative approach to zoning compliance and site adaptation. It presents as a two-story structure from Highway 101 while actually incorporating a four-story building with an adjacent outdoor courtyard.

Developers faced formidable obstacles, including a steep 30-foot grade change, multiple city sewer easements, and an existing single-family residence surrounded on three sides by the project site. These factors had previously hindered development efforts.

The successful execution required extensive collaboration between contractor Walsh, ownership group Stewardship, and the architecture and engineering team led by Otak.

Sustainability features include solar-ready and electric vehicle-ready infrastructure, allowing for future renewable energy and EV installations. The development also utilizes materials specifically chosen for durability in the coastal environment, protecting against moisture, salt air, and high winds. A central courtyard serves dual purposes as recreational space for residents and buffer from adjacent Highway 101. The design prioritizes natural   light throughout living spaces.

The development promotes multimodal transportation with adjacent access to a bus stop and bike lane, plus on-site parking options.

During construction, the general contractor implemented a comprehensive safety program focusing on training, planning, measuring, and relating. Weekly safety check-ins with tradespersons created a proactive safety culture.

The project had a 20 percent MWESB contracting goal and achieved 22.10 percent participation.

As Lincoln County continues recovering from wildfire impacts, Wecoma Place represents a significant step toward rebuilding the community while addressing critical affordable housing needs along Oregon’s coast.

Agencies instrumental to the project were Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Housing Authority of Lincoln County.

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Project Name: Broadleaf Arbor

Location: St. Helens

Completion date: February 2024

Size: 253,674 square feet

Cost: $60,625,427

Owner/Developer: Community Development Partners in collaboration with Northwest Oregon Housing Authority

Architect: MWA Architects

Interior Designer: MWA Architects

Engineer: Interface Engineering, KPFF, Lower Columbia Engineering

General Contractor: LMC Construction

Submitting Company: LMC Construction

Other Key Associates: EngAGE NW, The Center for Public Interest Design, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Oregon Housing and Community Services

Subcontractors: ACME Scenic & Display, Academy Specialties, Advanced Fireproofing & Insulation, Advanced Surface Innovations, All Trades General Contractors, Anderson Sandblasting, Architectural Metal Works, Architectural Specialties, Axiom Division 7, B&B Tile & Masonry, B3 Investments, Caliber Plumbing & Mechanical, Cash’s Drapery, Choice Finish Carpentry, Civic Construction, Clearline Engineering, DeaMor Associates, Dennis 7 Dees Landscaping, Eagle Striping Services, Fredinburg Masonry, Frontier Metal Fabrications, Frontier Roofing & Construction, Great Northwest Gutters, Gresham Roofing and Construction, Haier US Appliance Solutions dba GE Appliances, Hicks Striping & Curbing, Hillman Consulting, Hilti, Interior Technology, JB Insulation, Joshua Legacy Painting & Restoration, KO Construction, LDC, LJP Construction, Lanz Cabinet Shop, Little Fish Lighting, Mailbox Solutions, Merit Contractor of Oregon, Meyer Sign Co. of Oregon, Mid Valley, Modular Paving Systems, Moffet Energy Modeling, Mueller Mobile Blasting, Olympian Precast, Pacific Northwest Glass & Mirror, Parcel Pending, Patriot Fire Protection, Pilot Development dba US Mailboxes, Polygon US, Precision Countertops, Professional Lath & Plaster, RC Building Specialties, Recreation Services, Red Building Services, Sawtooth Caulking, Shields Floor Installation, Standard TV & Appliance, Stephen Waldroup Construction, Sterling-Pacific, Sunbreak Energy Advisors, Sunstate Equipment, Superior Fence & Construction, TFT Construction, TK Elevator, Taylor Pump Stations, TerraCalc Land Surveying, Three Phase Electric, True North Geotechnical Services, Urban Resources, VPI Quality Windows, WH Cress, WMX Construction, Western Pacific Building Materials, Zavala

In a first for Oregon, an innovative housing development is bringing multiple generations together under one roof. Broadleaf Arbor, a collaboration between Community Development Partners and Northwest Oregon Housing Authority, offers 239 apartments designed specifically for intergenerational living.

Located at the intersection of Gable Road and Columbia River Highway, the 16-acre development addresses critical housing needs in Columbia County, where over half of households are classified as low-income and many spend more than the recommended percentage of income on housing.

This is Oregon’s first fully realized “Community for All Ages.” The project model integrates inclusive design principles, affordable family and senior housing, substantial community space and intergenerational programming.

“Broadleaf Arbor is a remarkable achievement in community development, embodying a vision of a ‘Community for All Ages,’” said Chris Duffin, LMC Construction president, in the Top Projects nomination form. “Broadleaf Arbor seamlessly integrates affordable housing with essential services and amenities, fostering an intergenerational community where residents of all ages can thrive.”

The campus features 11 buildings clustered around green spaces and wetlands, including a dedicated elevator building for senior residents. The development earned Earth Advantage Platinum certification for its senior building and Gold certification for its 10 other structures.

At the heart of the community sits the Commons Building, featuring a large communal kitchen, study spaces and conference rooms. The senior building includes specialized amenities like a library, teaching kitchen and courtyard designed to encourage interaction among residents of different ages.

EngAGE NW, the lead resident services provider, employs a full-time, on-site program director who coordinates arts, wellness, lifelong learning and community-building activities. Residents can participate in exercise classes, creative arts workshops, book clubs and technology courses at no additional cost.

The 100 percent electric development features numerous sustainability initiatives, including a central heat pump hot water system and a 117 kW solar array on the senior building’s roof. Eight electric vehicle charging stations were installed with financial support from the Oregon Department of Energy.

Outdoor spaces include walking paths along wetlands, community gardens, picnic areas and culturally relevant landscaping featuring native and edible plants.

The project exceeded minority contracting goals, achieving 21.78 percent MBE, SBE and WBE participation. Thirteen firms contributed to achieving the goals including Professional Lath & Plaster, Zavala, Merit Contractor, Standard TV & Appliance and RC Building Specialties.

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Construction of a 130-unit affordable housing development is under way in Hood River. Mariposa Village will consist of six wood-framed residential buildings, plus a community center. There will be a mix of townhouses and multistory multifamily buildings, including one specifically for seniors.

Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation and Community Development Partners are co-developing the project. Holst Architecture designed Mariposa Village and Walsh Construction is the general contractor. The team also includes civil engineer Klein and Associates of Hood River, structural engineer TM Rippey Consulting Engineers, MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) consultant Interface Engineering, and landscape architect PLACE.

After purchasing the 7.25-acre project site, at 780 Rand Road, in 2020 for $1.2 million, the city of Hood River donated it for development through an RFP process. The total development cost will be approximately $74.2 million.

Mariposa Village will include seven studios, 29 one-bedroom units, 48 two-bedroom units and 46 three-bedroom units; all will be for people earning up to 60 percent of area median income. Thirty-nine units will have project-based vouchers from the Mid-Columbia Housing Authority, Community Development Partners senior development manager Lucy Corbett said. The vouchers will go to households earning up to 30 percent of AMI.

“The design is intended to create community among residents,” Corbett said.

The community center will have offices for property management and resident services; the latter will be provided by Columbia Cascade Housing Corporation. There will also be a classroom/meeting space and an outdoor patio.

Other site amenities will include a park with a playground and community garden beds. A strong emphasis will be placed on the natural environment by also incorporating trails and protecting the on-site wetlands, Community Development Partners spokesperson Jena Green stated in an email. Two trails will be operated by the city of Hood River and Hood River Valley Parks + Recreation District and be accessible by both Mariposa Village residents and community members.

National Green Building Standard gold certification is being targeted for the project. The community center will be a net-zero energy building with solar panels on its roof. The project team will receive 45L tax credits, because the residential units will meet the Zero Energy Ready Home standard of the Oregon Department of Energy.

Most of the buildings will have fiber-cement siding and gable roofs.

Construction began in late April. A ceremony hailing the start of work is expected to take place late this month. Completion of the first phase is scheduled for July 2026, with the second and final phase to follow by January 2027.

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PROJECT: Sky Lodge at Touchmark in the West Hills

LOCATION: Southwest Portland

START DATE: July 2021

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE: mid-2023

COST: undisclosed

OWNER: Touchmark

DEVELOPER: Touchmark Development & Construction

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Andersen Construction

ARCHITECT: LRS Architects

ENGINEERS: Humber Design Group (civil), IMEG Corp. (structural), Interface Engineering (mechanical, electrical, plumbing)

OTHER ASSOCIATES/CONSULTANTS: Biella Lighting Design (lighting), JBK Consulting and Design (kitchen), Mayer/Reed (landscape architect), NV5 (geotechnical services), Tenor Engineering Group (acoustics), Westlake Consultants (land use and survey)

PROJECT SIGNIFICANCE: Less than four years after Touchmark in the West Hills opened, the retirement community is expanding. The five-story Sky Lodge, now under construction, will include 56 condominium-style housing units – most with two bedrooms and a fireplace. Other options will have either one bedroom or one bedroom with a den. Units will average 1,300 square feet. All units will include fully equipped kitchens with quartz countertops and tile backsplash.

The new building will have a contemporary flair and incorporate elements of the surrounding natural setting. Exterior metal panels will subtly change color depending on lighting and weather. Metal and wood accents will dominate the interior, with colors leaning toward soft neutrals.

Given the steep slope, much care went into situating the building on the site. For example, the retaining wall penetrates 17 feet into bedrock. This approach saved numerous trees and those that were cut will be incorporated into the building – for furniture in particular.

Sky Lodge’s amenities will include a restaurant and bar featuring a brick oven, a woodshop, an arts and crafts studio, a library, and an outdoor gathering area with a fire pit.

Touchmark Development & Construction is overseeing the project and working with longtime partners LRS Architects and Andersen Construction. The three collaborated to design and build the two existing Touchmark in the West Hills lodges that opened in summer 2018.

“Building Blocks” spotlights noteworthy projects either under construction or approaching the start of construction. To submit a project for consideration, please visit: djcoregon.com/building-blocks.

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PATH Architecture is expanding its use of cross-laminated timber to include a new senior living center at 3450 N. Williams Ave. When completed in 2019, The Canyons will be a 110,000-square-foot mixed-use structure next to developer’s Kaiser Group‘s Carbon 12.

“We have been working in mass-timber products for five years and we have learned a hell of a lot,” said Ben Kaiser, owner of PATH Architecture and Kaiser Group. “We keep moving the needle. We are pretty comfortable with CLT and how it works.”

One of the big advantages of using CLT in a senior living structure is that the panels help moderate moisture in the air.

In wintertime, the panels release moisture, which helps relieve dry air conditions that can hamper elderly residents’ breathing. Then in summertime, the panels absorb moisture.

The panels will include sensors able to detect exactly how much moisture they are absorbing or releasing.

“Studies have shown it’s a healthier environment,” Kaiser said. “The sensors will have a 13-year battery life. So for 13 years, we can read the moisture levels in the panels on an iPad. We will be able to see if there is a leak. That is fantastic to have in any building.”

The decision to use CLT as the primary construction material is one of the primary reasons for the $21 million price tag. Nevertheless, Kaiser sought to use an environmentally sustainable product.

“For me, at this point in my career, it’s about reversing the carbon footprint of construction,” he said. “I think the objective is to think beyond the immediate costs.”

Project developers have also added 10 units from the original plan formed two years ago.

“It has evolved,” said Jennifer Dillan, a spokeswoman with Kaiser Group. “One thing this project does is build on a series of unique partnerships.”

Those partnerships include one with New Seasons Market. Residents at The Canyons will be able to order from the market ready-made meals that can be delivered. A top goal of the project is to allow seniors to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.

“This is not assisted-living level of care,” Kaiser said. “We designed an alley on the back of The Canyons. The elder folks will be able to go to an active retail corridor.”

This is Kaiser’s first foray into senior living structures. As such, he brought in Hoosiers Corporation as a partner. The Tokyo-based company has built numerous elder living structures in Japan. In return for sharing its expertise building elder housing, Hoosiers Corp. is getting firsthand experience using CLT, which is becoming more popular in Asia.

“They want to know about CLT and we want to learn about elder housing,” Kaiser said. “It’s a good match.”

The Canyons’ residential units will have a mid-price point, Kaiser said. A driving force in the effort to ensure costs wouldn’t be too high was the experiences he had with his own father.

“My siblings and I toured places,” Kaiser said. “The options for people who are not wealthy were not very good. They were all extremely expensive or so bad we would never put our parent there. We are trying to find a middle ground. We want to build something that is affordable but still a good place to live.”

R&H Construction has been chosen as the general contractor. Ground is expected to be broken in September and a grand opening is scheduled for December 2019.

On the Boards is a 91��Ƶ feature offering a look at the projects in Oregon being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm’s projects considered, contact 91��Ƶ architecture and engineering reporter Kent Hohlfeld at 503-802-7224 or khohlfeld@djcOregon.com.

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In 2002, Touchmark quietly started buying up parcels in unincorporated Washington County.

Today, the Beaverton-based senior living provider holds more than 80 acres of contiguous, prime real estate in the West Hills, and construction of Phase I of its first local retirement community recently reached the halfway point. The Touchmark in the West Hills will provide a variety of living options and a gamut of care services and amenities – and conceptual renderings show the firm has high hopes for the imprint.

“It’s important when you build in a location that your views aren’t blocked by the buildings around you, so we wanted to buy all the lots here before we develop,” said Werner G. Nistler Jr., Touchmark’s founder and chairman. “Our vision has been that we pick up as many acres as we could in one area and build as the market provides.”

PERFECT TIMING

The main entrance to Touchmark in the West Hills is Touchmark Way, a public-access road created for the project off Breyer Lane. The road eventually will wind around a water feature and pickleball courts, and run past lodge buildings arrayed on a steep perspective.

The vertiginous topography is central to the marketing of the project, but also has created challenges. Touchmark’s in-house design team, along with LRS Architects, has had to incorporate more stacking of units, a sky bridge to connect residents with services and massive retaining walls to slow erosion. And soils testing also didn’t fully reveal the rocky substrata below.

But the well-defined elevation allows for what may be the most novel aspect of the project – a plot of pinot noir grapes. Wine will feature prominently in the development’s image – oenology courses will be offered and the fruit grown on-site will be bottled under a Touchmark label.

“It’s a real creative way of turning what could have just been some landscaping into a real amenity and something that can be a real positive,” Marcus Breuer, Touchmark’s newly minted CEO, said.

Plus, added Nistler, “Who wouldn’t want to live in a vineyard?”

Planning for the project was so carefully considered that the first vine cuttings went into the ground three years ago, with an eye toward being able to bottle the first vintage from grapes grown on site around the time the project opens in fall 2017.

The hillier areas that aren’t vineyard will remain open space. For now, only about 12 of 80 acres are being improved. But a conceptual site plan from 2013 shows a much more fleshed-out vision with mid- and low-rise buildings spread around a trail and street array.

MEETING MARKET DEMAND

It’s likely the effort would have taken flight sooner, but for dips in the U.S. economy. The demand for senior housing is surging, and the baby boom generation has different views on aging, Nistler said.

“It’s a bit like a college campus, where all your services are in the same location,” he said.

Touchmark’s residents range from 60 to 100-plus, and the idea behind its facilities is “aging in place.” Care options range from full independence to complete memory care. Offering a range of services is important because couples often don’t have the same health needs, Breuer said.

Phase I will feature two large lodges. One building will contain 126 condo units across four wings while the other will contain 138 homes with connected assisted living and memory care services. All corner units will feature glassy conservatories with wraparound perspectives.

Sixty-eight of the 80 total acres will remain open space, with walking trails, garden plots, water features and an amphitheater. The 40,000-square foot clubhouse will feature health and fitness amenities as well as an array of dining and social rooms oriented around westerly views.

Nistler founded Touchmark in Beaverton in 1980. It’s grown into one of Oregon’s largest privately held companies with 2,400 employees across 11 retirement complexes in nine states and one Canadian province. But it’s still based in the same office park on Griffth Drive.

The West Hills complex will have a similar look to Touchmark’s facilities in Boise and Bend.  The project, which is Andersen Construction’s 11^th for the company, has managed to keep on schedule without crews having to work many irregular hours.

The development of the remainder of the property will depend on the success of the project. Breuer said senior housing is a game of supply and demand, like any other market segment.

“Portland actually tends to be fairly educated about senior housing and has a higher percent of people willing to go into it than other markets,” he said. “But that penetration rate still isn’t very high. For us, it’s an education process. We survey all our new residents, and 90 percent say they wished they moved in sooner.”

Each day can become complicated as people age, and a new approach to senior housing used by companies like Touchmark lets residents focus on what entertains them, Breuer said.

“There’s no gutters to keep clear here, no roof to clean,” he said. “That’s our job.”

PROJECT BOX

PROJECT: Touchmark in the West Hills Phase I

Owner: Touchmark Senior Living

Contractor: Andersen Construction

Architect: LRS Architects

Substantial completion: Fall 2017

Units: 290, for people 60 and older

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Heavy work is heating up on the big expansion/renovation at Cedar Sinai Park, where administrators are eager to roll out a new method of senior care.

The Southwest Portland project will add two buildings, each made of two self-sustaining “homes” containing 12 beds each. A total of 48 beds will be added to CSP. Phase 1 was recently completed, and crews are beginning to make their big push on Phase II, which involves the most square-footage. The overall move to a post-acute rehabilitation center should wrap by January 2018.

Ground was broken on the $33 million project – designed by LRS Architects – in summer 2015. The somewhat extended timeline is due to the project phasing – as one section is completed and crews move on to the next, residents begin to occupy the new space.

“The next seven months are pivotal to making our schedule,” senior project manager Kraig O’Connor said.

By far, the biggest challenge for general contractor R&H Construction has been performing the work while the existing facility is fully occupied, according to project team members. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems need to continue functioning as they are upgraded.

The risk of cutting the wrong pipe or electrical wire has an added level of severity when live people depend on it, O’Connor said. That is why surfaces have color-coded tape, delineating which elements are to stay and which will go.

“It’s different going into an unused building and having to tear it apart,” he said. “Here we have to be incredibly careful.

“We obviously don’t want to interrupt the services that they need to provide, but we need them to know we’re here. That’s our biggest challenge, and they’ve been amazing partners.”

Cedar Sinai Park CEO Sandra Simon returned the compliment. She said she’s been involved in five similar remodels during which buildings were occupied during construction.

“I’ve been involved in projects where we’ve felt it,” she said, “but they’ve been amazing partners. I haven’t had any residents call me to complain – no families, no neighbors.”

Some residents, CSP officials insist, love the excitement the renovation affords – the noise, the new faces, the changes in scenery. (No residents were on-site for the 91��Ƶ to ask to confirm this.)

“Some of our residents have made friends,” said Jennifer Felberg, CSP’s life enrichment director. “They love to go up and say, ‘How you boys doing?’ ”

For this, communication has been key, O’Connor said. Messages are conveyed differently in the construction and the health care sectors, so getting on the same page has been an area of focus. Project leaders on both sides have had to keep their cellphones close at hand.

“The biggest thing we can do is communicate often,” O’Connor said. “We have staff available to answer questions full-time, and so do they.”

R&H has relied on a crew of about 20, with around 30 more working on-site for subcontractors.

Cedar Sinai Park has hosted tours for neighbors for most of July. Once the residents move in, access will be more restricted. The reason is tied to the organization’s philosophy, Felberg said.

“You can ask yourself: Would this happen in my home? If the answer is no, then it’s not going to happen here,” she said. “In our home, if a stranger comes up, they ring the doorbell and you decide whether or not to invite them in. And that’s how it will be here – we’re honoring the threshold.”

The rooms aren’t numbered. They aren’t shared either. CSP’s Green House model for elder care, Felberg said, focuses on three things: meaningful life, empowered staff and “real home.”

“I hope that we are moving forward elder care for our society, and for all of Oregon,” she said. “It needed to happen, and it couldn’t come any faster.”

Each room in the “home” buildings will feature private bathrooms. Residents will have the option of handling their own laundry in private areas.

Green House caregivers, known as “Shahbazim,” are certified nursing assistants (CNAs) cross-trained in the Green House model, which includes meal preparation, laundry and other services for seven to 10 residents. Shahbazim is the plural of Shabaz, a Persian word for a legendary falcon that guards a king.

All Cedar Sinai Park residents are Jewish, and require skilled nursing care.

The project started about 10 years ago with the establishment of a capital campaign seeking around $19 million. About five years ago, the small “home-like” layout was chosen, and then the “Green House” method was adopted.

“It’s beyond bricks and mortar – it’s a philosophy of care,” Simon said.

“Everything you see is meant to eliminate institutional cues,” Felberg said. “You won’t see med carts. The CNAs don’t wear scrubs. The residents who live here make most of the decisions. They plan the menus. They plan their activities. They participate in cooking. There are a lot more options.

“It’s really modeled on a home model. It’s a deliberate departure from institutional care.”

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