Enso Village is a partnership between the San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC) in San Francisco and Kendal Corp. located in Kennett Square, Pa., a Quaker-founded provider of communities and services for seniors. Zen Buddhism and Quaker principles share a similar ethos: simplicity, peace, valuing the individual, finding spirituality in everyone, integrity, equality, and stewardship. Northern California, and specifically Sonoma County, have an acute need for more senior living options especially as the population continues to age. This, coupled with the promise made to a generation of Zen teachers at SFZC that their housing would be taken care of as they retired from teaching, made the vision for Enso Village a timely decision.
The blend of this ethos is reflected in the design of Enso Village, a 60+ life plan community in Healdsburg, Calif., with use of simple natural materials like stone and wood and a high degree of sustainable design. The community features a single-purpose meditation hall—The Zendo—in the center of the main courtyard, and abundant indoor and outdoor spaces to encourage small group meetings or private meditation.
Additional features include a vegetarian-inspired dining venue, teaching kitchen, and on-site gardens for residents and the community, a pool with sun deck, gym, bocce court, and an automated multistory 130-car barn. Cuisine will be locally sourced, along with local farm and restaurant partnerships, all with an eye on highlighting Sonoma County’s fresh produce.
Situated on 13+ acres, Enso Village will feature 221 independent living homes, including 10 affordable units, 30 assisted living units and 24 memory care units, and will be part of a larger mixed-use community to include a boutique hotel; restaurant; and a mix of retail and service, public, and event spaces.
The 480,000-square-foot community is scheduled to break ground in the summer of 2021.
Project details:
Facility name: Enso Village
Location: Healdsburg, Calif.
Completion date: Third quarter 2023
Owner: Kendal at Sonoma
Total building area: 480,000 sq. ft. (including car barn)
Total construction cost: Approximately $175 million
Cost/sq. ft.: $360/sq. ft. (including site work)
Architect: HKIT and Mithun Architects
Interior designer: Forrest Perkins
General contractor: TBD
Engineer: Carlile-Macy
Builder: TBD
Construction management: The Weitz Company
