On the west coast of southern Florida, there’s a vibrant and buzzing community of seniors at Verena at Delray. The renovation and redesign of the building was an opportunity to make the atmosphere reflect the energy of the residents. From jazz band concerts to poker nights, this community is lively and dynamic in its social activity.

In collaboration with True Connection Communities and the Green Courte development team, Pi Architects determined that the interiors of the existing building needed help with functionality and intentional design that reflected how residents truly used the space, and in some cases, whether they used certain spaces at all.

For the Capstone at Centerra Assisted Living and Memory Care, familiarity is a key element of the community’s success. Throughout the design process, the local history and atmosphere of Loveland, CO, was kept front and center. The result is a stunning new assisted living and memory care community that pairs a rustic agrarian atmosphere with timeless simplicity, forming a love letter to its hometown.

Here’s the dilemma. We’ve seen firsthand how physically and mentally damaging social isolation can be on seniors, but—at least for the foreseeable future—we can’t go back to in-person visits, group activities, concerts, and crowded dining halls.

As senior living communities seek to address pandemic concerns and prepare for the new normal post-COVID, renovations are on their minds.