Plymouth Place, La Grange Park, Illinois
Plymouth Place Senior Living (La Grange Park, Ill.) embarked on a strategic planning mission due to rising market competition, aging infrastructure, and a desire to attract prospective independent living residents seeking alternative housing options.
The continuing care retirement community (CCRC) operator wanted to refresh its campus experience by enhancing commons area amenities for assisted living, memory care, and independent living residents.
A collaborative master planning process involving a resident task force, La Grange Park stakeholders, board members, and focus groups revealed the best path forward for redevelopment. The project encompassed the renovation/remodeling of existing spaces (including a gift shop marketplace, salon, fitness and studio space, multiuse areas, dining room and art studios), the new construction of a wellness-focused commons called the Center for Healthy Living (CHL)—including a pool, locker rooms, a life-long learning studio and dining—and a new independent living offering—The Arboretum Villas.
Multiphase CCRC master plan
Completed in spring 2024, the multiphase plan began with the renovation/remodeling of the gift shop marketplace, salon and dining room. The plan shifts promoted social interaction and positioned the existing building to receive the new addition. These spaces were refreshed with improved lighting, flexible seating and open, inviting layouts.
Space planning adjustments and finish updates, such as wood-look flooring and colorful, textural accent walls, garnered excitement with existing residents and paved the way for a seamless connection to the new CHL.
The CHL addition introduced a dynamic hub of activity to the heart of the community with a new state-of-the-art fitness and aquatic center, personalized wellness programming, chef-driven dining concepts, and demonstration kitchens for interactive culinary events.
Expanding senior residential options
The 15,486-square-foot CHL addition connects two main parts of the campus: the 8-story Georgian-style tower, constructed in 2005 as the centerpiece of Plymouth Place with independent living, assisted living, and healthcare residences, and the new Arboretum Villas, 58 independent living units.
Designed to meet current senior living trends, the Arboretum Villas reflect a more townhouse feel, emphasizing lower-scale, multiunit structures with private entrances, garage access, and open-concept living spaces. Inspired by brownstone architecture, the villas provide a contrast to the more traditional, formal character of the Georgian tower.
The configuration of the new components creates a pedestrian-friendly site plan with access to outdoor amenities, including walking trails, a greenhouse, fire pit, garden beds, courtyards, dining patios, games, and fitness activities.
Plymouth Place project details
Location: La Grange Park, Ill.
Completion date: April 2024
Owner: Plymouth Place
Total building area: 146,776 sq. ft. (new), 11,801 sq. ft. (renovation)
Total construction cost (excluding land): $68.1 million (new), $2.6 million (renovation)
Construction cost/sq. ft.: $464 (new), $220 (renovation)
Development manager: Eventus Strategic Partners
Architect: AG Architecture
Interior designer: Spellman Brady & Company
FF&E, artwork planning, and procurement: Spellman Brady & Company
General contractor: Pepper Construction
Landscape design: Hitchcock Design Group
Art commissioned work: Jess Franks
Carpet/flooring: J&J Flooring Group, Interface, Patcraft, Durkan, Mohawk, Evoke, Dal-Tile, Shaw Contract, Rubaroc,
Ceiling/wall systems: Armstrong, Meltdown Glass, ASI Arch systems, Tile Bar, Dal-Tile, Realstone, Turf Design, Atlas, Fireclay, Stick wood, Porcelanosa, Premier Tile
Fabric/textiles: Designtex, Arc Com, Pollack, Brentano
Furniture—seating/casegoods: Kwalu, Kimball, Duracare, DecoScape, Sit on It
Handrails/wall guards: InPro
Lighting: Electric Mirror, Kichler, Generation Lighting, Hinkley, Minka Group, Seagull Lighting, All Modern, Scott Lamp
Signage/wayfinding: TakeForm
Surfaces—solid/other: Cambria, LG Hausys, Viatera, HiMac, Meganite, Formica, Wilsonart, Nevamar, Chemetal
Wallcoverings: Momentum, MDC, Wolf Gordon, Phillip Jefferies, Denovo, Symphony
Other: Sherwin Williams (paint)
Project details are provided by the design team and not vetted by Environments for Aging.
