Environments for Aging named three Design Champions in 2024 for making significant contributions to the design of senior living environments.
This year’s winners included Margaret Suit, vice president of architecture, design, and development at Erickson Senior Living (Baltimore, Md.); Emily Pierson-Brown, associate principal at Perkins Eastman (Pittsburgh); and Dodd Kattman, principal at MKM Architecture + Design (Fort Wayne, Ind.).
Among this group’s achievements are creating new models for continuing care retirement communities; developing tools that help project teams overcome barriers and reimagine inclusive spaces; and challenging traditional senior living models with fresh approaches that balance resident care and financial sustainability.
As the year comes to a close, EFA asked the 2024 Design Champions to reflect on the past year and tell us what’s on their radar for senior living design in 2025.
Here’s what they had to say:
EFA: What trends in senior living design stood out to you in 2024?
Headshot credit: Perkins Eastman
Emily Pierson-Brown: One of my favorite trends is the embracing of vibrancy and modernity in higher levels of care where an equity of experience across the continuum is being valued and prioritized.
On the flip side, I’m curious to see where the pickleball trend goes; it remains a hot button issue in some communities and certainly has design implications for outdoor spaces. I personally wouldn’t mind gaining that space back for activities that are perhaps more universally welcomed.
Headshot credit: Tim Brumbeloe fine art photography
Dodd Kattman: I have never experienced anything like today’s construction market. The principles of supply and demand appear absent, as are the realities of general contractors wanting (or needing) to compete for work.
Regional distribution warehouses and computer data centers with energy appetites equal to small towns are more profitable. They absorb available construction resources, leaving fewer interested in serving life-plan communities. I’m hopeful this trend is short-lived, and that we will experience future construction pricing more consistent with overall inflation
EFA: How have approaches to dining evolved?
Headshot credit: Erickson Senior Living
Margaret Suit: Though dining has always been a driver in resident satisfaction, as well as a primary factor in socialization, seniors’ preferences have continued to evolve. Carryout options, a necessity during the pandemic, are still preferred by many; however, residents are not necessarily eating in their apartments.
Outdoor dining options continue to gain momentum, with enhancements such as covered areas with heat and fans, allowing for a multi-season experience. As predicted, seniors are seeking a wide range of dining experiences, not necessarily confined to traditional dining hours.
Pierson-Brown: I love the shift toward more intimate restaurant-style dining venues that underscore the delivery of variety and choice in the culinary experience, particularly in spaces like food halls and marketplaces. There is a vibrancy and, dare I say, joyful aspect to these spaces that reflect the lifestyle people want to live as they age.
EFA: What interior design trends do you anticipate gaining traction in the new year
Suit: Layered acoustic design in building design, finishes, and furnishes, not just to reduce sound but to improve sound clarity. Improvements in hearing assistance devices have placed a greater emphasis on inclusive communication for both residents and staff.
Also, advancements in wearable technology and passive monitoring are being used to alleviate prospective resident safety and security concerns, as communities seek to open their community and increase integration with the surrounding neighborhood, particularly on multi-building campuses.
Pierson-Brown: So often, economics drive design decisions. What we will continue to see going forward are more hyper-flexible amenity spaces that encourage multiple uses from multiple user groups.
Flexibility allows residents to take ownership of spaces and evolve them to whatever activities and interests may be popular at a given time. It also allows communities to build less non-revenue generating space, which can make or break a project. These spaces don’t need to be “lesser than” but can embody the kind of fluidity and inclusivity that consumers are looking for.
I’m also looking forward to more bold, bright colors throughout buildings, both interior and exterior. The world can be a challenging place to live in right now, and having spaces that display colorful, vibrant tones can contribute to a more positive outlook.
EFA: What’s on your radar looking ahead?
Pierson-Brown: Wellness will continue to be a strong trend for many years to come. Now that we have more access to our own health data than ever before, technology and information will allow residents, staff, and leadership to make better decisions about health and wellness within the senior living context. I think this will be less about treating illness and much more of an emphasis on preventative care, social wellness, enjoyment, and quality of life.
Kattman: The most abundant evidence available correlates caregiver job satisfaction with positive nursing outcomes. We’ve known for years how to remove environmental barriers to resident-centered care. Let’s together consider how to leverage positive staff culture with spaces and develop amenities that enhance efficiencies, reduce worker stress, and design staff-centered spaces to make it abundantly clear how much we depend on and care about one another.
As high interest rates and feared inflation become less of a concern, we should increasingly see more opportunities to reposition or rebuild aging campuses. Often criticized for being overly cautious and slow to adapt to changes in the market, not-for-profit providers today have a unique advantage over their for-profit competitors regarding access to tax-exempt financing choices. Carpe-diem?
The 2024 Design Champions will be recognized at the 2025 Environments for Aging Conference + Expo, April 26-29, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. Nominations will open for the 2025 Design Champions awards in early 2025. Look for details here.
