W.E. O’Neil tapped for BD+C Top 10 Trends in Senior Living Facilities

Building Design + Construction (BD+C) tapped W.E. O’Neil multifamily experts for their Top 10 Trends in Senior Living Facilities report, including COO John Finn.

The 65-and-over population is growing faster than any other age group. Architects, engineers, and contractors are coming up with creative senior housing solutions to better serve this burgeoning cohort.

About the senior living trend of aging in place, John Finn, Chief Operating Officer, says: “We are witnessing the integration of independent living, assisted living, and memory care units within the same development.”

Further on senior living, he shares about high-end amenities: “‘There is a growing emphasis on luxury in senior living, with an increased focus on amenity spaces.’ For The Variel in California, W.E. O’Neil included a variety of activity-oriented amenities such as an indoor swimming pool, spa, physical therapy room, library, art studio, lounge, and massage rooms.”

The article also shares about senior living that “with greater financial stressors, developers are leaning into more efficient design and construction, including modular builds. For The Variel, W.E. O’Neil expedited construction  using prefabricated wall panels.”

The Variel in Woodland Hills, California

Sections in BD+C’s Senior Living report include:

1. Foster connections with the community
2. Offer a wide range of living options
3. Eliminate generational divides
4. Offer robust fitness options
5. Provide resort-like amenities
6. Prioritize health and wellness
7. Avoid institutional-looking designs
8. Adopt tech to keep seniors connected
9. Mitigate financing struggles with front-end planning and efficient design and construction
10. Explore adaptive reuse opportunities that could lower development and construction costs