Senior Housing News chose the Architecture & Design Awards for this year on October 1st. Lenity Architecture is honored to have our project, Villa Toscana Memory Care, selected as the winner for the Small Footprint category.

A team of industry judges evaluated 53 nominees across 16 categories for the Architecture & Design Awards competition, recognizing cutting-edge design, excellence, and innovation in senior living. Lenity is delighted to report that our project, Villa Toscana Memory Care, has been awarded first place in the Small Footprint category.

Our nomination focused on utilizing a central pulse point of Mountain View in order to weave together community engagement and compassionate care. On the lower levels of the building, Giorgio’s Italian Grill and Pizzeria, is utilized as the main kitchen for the residents upstairs while still serving the community as a whole. Additionally, retail spaces are available to continue maintaining the lively and vibrant Mountain View neighborhood. By combining retail, dining, and memory care, residents are able to stay within the familiarity of their community while receiving top of the line care.

The memory care facility on the upper floors was designed to balance dignity, comfort, and connection. A thoughtful mix of private and shared suites ensures flexibility and personalization. Communal dining rooms, activity areas, and landscaped screened balconies provide secure opportunities for social interaction and restorative retreat, supporting both engagement and well-being. By situating senior living within a walkable, thriving urban corridor, Villa Toscana ensures residents are part of the community rather than set apart from it. Families benefit from easy access to local parks, shops, and cultural amenities while residents enjoy daily life within a purpose-built care environment.

This project proves that senior housing does not require expansive land to have a transformative impact. Through its small yet powerful footprint, Villa Toscana embodies a forward-thinking model of senior living that integrates sustainability, embraces community, and delivers care with dignity. It offers a replicable vision for cities seeking to weave senior housing into the fabric of everyday life.

We are thrilled to have this project recognized as one of this year’s Senior Housing News Architecture & Design Awards winner.

Thank you to the Salem Habitat for Humanity for allowing us to volunteer this summer. We are looking forward to the next opportunity!

Our annual Summer Picnic was also a blast! With vendors including Rolling Bridgeway Cafe and PopStop, and a live performance from The Valients, we were able to enjoy the last hot rays of the Summer.

We’re excited to see what fun times we’ll create with the next season’s hard work!

Cedarhurst of Shawnee: A Community Designed for Comfort

We are thrilled to announce our newest venture: Cedarhurst of Shawnee, a carefully crafted residential care facility that aims to transform senior living in Kansas. With construction now in progress, this cutting-edge community will feature 89 elegantly designed suites within an expansive two-story, 80,704 square-foot campus, providing both assisted living and memory care services.

Cedarhurst of Shawnee is an upcoming state-of-the-art community that will offer both assisted living apartments and memory care suites. Residents can look forward to a community designed to blend elegance, functionality, and compassionate care. Our architectural vision emphasizes modern elegance, accessibility, smart functionality, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home.

We are excited to see this community come to life and serve the seniors of Kansas. With engaging social activities, chef-prepared meals, beautifully designed living spaces, and convenient access to high-quality healthcare, this community is set to open its doors in Spring 2026.

Designing for Belonging: Fostering Thriving Communities

In partnership with Hawthorn Senior Living, we have completed another project that highlights our commitment to reimagining what senior living looks like. Bear Hollow Estates demonstrates our dedication to innovative design, community integrations, and the seamless fusion of form and function. 

Bear Hollow Estates

Seamlessly integrated into the heart of Rancho Cordova, Bear Hollow Estates is an independent senior living community designed with a southwest contemporary aesthetic. A three-story community spanning 144,995 square feet, this estate has 149 suites. The design seamlessly incorporates enhanced California Energy and Accessibility codes while also maintaining a welcoming contemporary design that blends into the surrounding residential area.

Our team focused on maintaining energy-efficient standards while preserving the southwest contemporary design found throughout the residential neighborhoods. With covered patios throughout the facility, an indoor theater, a cozy library, multiple activity rooms, and a cheerful pub, there are a variety of spaces to socialize and enjoy. The community’s features also include a state-of-the-art gym, salon, game room, and a lush garden to enjoy the California sun.

Bear Hollow Estates represents our commitment to creating spaces that enrich lives through thoughtful design and innovation. It stands as a beacon of modern architecture’s role in enhancing individual experiences and contributing to the vitality of growing communities.

In all our collaborations with Hawthorn, including Bear Hollow Estates, Lenity Architecture remains committed to creating environments where people can thrive. By upholding high living standards, our team consistently pushes the boundaries of what is possible, designing communities that are both functional and beautiful.

All photos provided by Josh Hamman Photography

Building Communities of Care: Senior Living Projects with Calson Management

Partnering with Calson Management, our team is honored to help bring forward senior living communities that support aging with dignity, connection, and care. These projects demonstrate a shared vision rooted in purposeful planning and a strong understanding of the diverse needs of older adults nationwide. Take a look at a few projects we have under construction in California.

The Valora at Campbell

Under Construction | 102,962 SF | 83 Suites

Now underway in Campbell, this four-story assisted living facility will deliver 83 suites within a 102,962 square foot structure that includes underground parking. Designed to promote comfort and a sense of community, the project will offer vital residential services for seniors in a supportive environment that adapts to their changing needs

Soquel Senior Living

Under Construction | 82,510 SF | 82 Suites

Located in Soquel, this three-story facility is currently under construction and will feature 82 suites across 84,472 square feet. Offering assisted living and memory care, the community is planned to provide a full spectrum of senior care in a welcoming, resident-focused setting.

Cedarhurst of Lincoln: A Community Designed for Comfort

We are excited to introduce our latest project: Cedarhurst of Lincoln, a thoughtfully designed residential care facility set to redefine senior living in Nebraska. Construction is currently underway for this innovative community, which will include 89 beautifully designed suites within a spacious two-story campus of 80,704 square feet, offering both assisted living and memory care services.

Cedarhurst of Lincoln is an upcoming state-of-the-art community that will offer both assisted living apartments and memory care suites. Residents can look forward to a community designed to blend elegance, functionality, and compassionate care. Our architectural vision emphasizes modern elegance, accessibility, smart functionality, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home.

We are excited to see this community come to life and serve the seniors of Lincoln. With engaging social activities, chef-prepared meals, beautifully designed living spaces, and convenient access to high-quality healthcare, this community is set to open its doors in Spring 2026.

Inside, the renovated reception area provides a clear, inviting focal point for visitors, featuring branded graphics behind the desk to express company culture. The redesigned lobby includes a sculptural stairway and a bridge leading to the large conference room, establishing visual connectivity and encouraging collaboration. Small conference spaces enclosed with glass demising walls, along with accent and decorative lighting, bring a sense of openness and transparency while maintaining acoustic control.

Throughout the open office areas, suspended acoustic ceiling clouds define work zones while preserving a sense of volume and daylight, balanced by modern light fixtures that add interest and visual hierarchy. Private offices continue this thoughtful material palette, blending openness with privacy through high-quality finishes and strategic glazing. At the rear of the site, a staff patio offers a valuable outdoor amenity, positioned against the modernized backdrop of the expanded building. Together, this design deliver a cohesive and flexible environment that supports the company’s ongoing growth and innovation.

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The main design goal was to improve how people move through the space while ensuring privacy and comfort. The floor plan was carefully laid out to make it easy for patients and staff to navigate, with a smooth flow from the check-in area through vital checks, exam rooms, and checkout. This clear and logical path helps avoid congestion and keeps the clinic running efficiently.

Privacy was also a top priority. Staff-only areas were strategically placed away from patient spaces, keeping work areas discreet and professional. The staff break room, complete with kitchen amenities, and spacious physician offices provide a comfortable and supportive workspace while staying out of view from patients.

For patients, the clinic was designed to feel welcoming and stress-free. A spacious waiting area, intentionally separated from the check-in desk, creates a calm first impression. Moving from the waiting area to exam rooms feels intuitive and straightforward, helping patients feel at ease. Natural light, warm materials, and thoughtful finishes come together to create a sense of comfort and trust, balancing the functional needs of a medical space with a human touch.

This project came with its share of challenges, including fitting all required spaces — exam rooms, offices, staff work areas, and support spaces — into the existing footprint without feeling crowded. Careful space planning and creative design strategies allowed us to maximize usable space while maintaining a sense of openness. Coordinating medical equipment, maintaining patient privacy, and supporting clinic operations all had to be seamlessly integrated into one cohesive design.

Through careful planning and an eye for both detail and practicality, this clinic renovation achieves an ideal balance of efficiency, privacy, and comfort. The result is a welcoming and functional healthcare space that supports quality care and a positive experience for everyone who uses it.

Expanding Care: Bridgeway Community Health’s Campus Expansion

Lenity Architecture is proud to partner with Bridgeway Community Health to expand their campus at 750 Front Street with a 21,069 SF addition. This project is designed to enhance Bridgeway’s ability to provide critical services while fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for clients.

The new addition will include sobering stations, offering individuals a safe place to recover instead of being taken directly to jail, as well as Bridgeway’s primary care clinic and a dedicated Medically Managed Detox facility. A full commercial kitchen will also be integrated to provide high-quality meals for clients during their stay. Our team has worked closely with Bridgeway to create a space that balances cutting-edge medical care with a comforting, non-institutional atmosphere.

The design incorporates natural wood elements, murals, and tree imagery—symbolizing personal growth and renewal—ensuring that the environment supports the healing journey. The addition’s exterior will complement the existing building with coordinated colors and siding, while a new plaza at the primary entrance, framed by a partial building wall and a wood trellis structure, will establish a distinct presence along Front Street.

At Lenity, we believe in designing spaces that not only serve their function but also inspire and uplift. We look forward to seeing this project come to life and the positive impact it will have on the community. This project will be part of Bridgeway Plaza and is expected to open it’s doors Spring of 2026.