The 2026 Environments for Aging Conference + Expo heads to Phoenix March 16-18, bringing two days of keynote and educational sessions for attendees.
Environments for Aging is previewing some of the upcoming educational sessions in a series of Q+As with speakers, sharing what they plan to discuss and key takeaways they’ll offer attendees.
Session: “Senior Living Design Through the Lenses of Generations X, Y, and Z”
Wednesday, March 18, 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Speakers: Laura Kreher, designer and art consultant, Spellman Brady & Company (St. Louis); Cole Marvin, executive director, Friendship Village Tempe (Tempe, Ariz.); Alicia Nicolay, director of design, Spellman Brady & Company (St. Louis)
With Gen Z creatives entering the senior living industry, millennials driving design innovation, and Gen X leaders managing communities, a cultural shift is underway that prioritizes comfort, creativity, connection, and independence. This session will showcase how universal human desires—like socialization, learning, and beauty—transcend age, and how designing for older adults is no longer about limitation, but about enabling thriving lifestyles.
Speakers will share real-world examples, including rooftop breweries and multiuse public spaces, that illustrate how to engage multiple generations under one roof successfully.
Environments for Aging: How are younger generations, such as millennials and Gen Z, influencing the future of senior living design?
Laura Kreher (Credit: Courtesy of Spellman Brady & Company)
Laura Kreher: Younger generations are pushing to design environments that allow seniors to flourish, not live a “Groundhog Day,” where every day is the same. They are advocating for safe, fun, and engaging environments.
The goal is to create a home for seniors that allows them to satisfy their inner child; where they can explore, create, and play!
When you have younger generations jealous that they are not living in these communities, you know it’s a successful design.
EFA: How do universal human desires, such as socialization, learning, and beauty, transcend age, and how do they support thriving lifestyles for residents?
Kreher: No matter how much humans evolve over centuries, their core needs never change. The blueprint has been drawn over and over again. Desires like socialization, learning, and beauty may seem like luxuries but are actually necessities.
Providing environments and programs that cater to these needs allows seniors to thrive. Without them, we are missing the key elements of life that make us human and enjoy every day.
EFA: How can project teams balance the cultural shift toward lifestyle-driven design with the practical needs of senior living communities?
Alicia Nicolay (Credit: Courtesy of Spellman Brady & Company)
Alicia Nicolay: This balance comes down to integrating hospitality thinking with healthcare functionality, not choosing one over the other.
The best projects start by asking how a space should feel and then layering in how it must perform. For example, a lounge can feel like a boutique hotel space while still accommodating accessibility and durable materials that stand up to heavy use. Dining venues can feel like neighborhood restaurants while supporting back-of-house efficiency and practical needs.
When teams collaborate early, including designers, operators, care providers, and residents, the solutions become more human-centered. You stop designing for categories like “senior living” or “healthcare” and start designing for daily life.
When residents feel dignity, choice, and independence in their environment, the practical needs are still met, but the experience is elevated. That balance is what allows communities to function well and feel vibrant.
EFA: How do design features, such as rooftop breweries or multiuse public spaces, support engagement across multiple generations?
Cole Marvin: When spaces are open to the public, they naturally bring generations together. Our brewery at Friendship Village Tempe, Starfire, shows up on Untappd and public review platforms, so it attracts the public and residents into the same environment. It becomes a shared social hub, not a space defined by age.
Residents have even said they avoid traditional settings because those environments make them feel older, while vibrant public venues keep them energized and engaged. These changes in design don’t just benefit one group; they elevate the entire community. They build pride, create connections, and encourage families to return often, which strengthens multigenerational relationships and legacy.
EFA: How does the senior living industry need to evolve to meet the expectations of future generations?
Nicolay: The industry has to think beyond one generation at a time. We’re designing for current residents, future residents, and families who will visit and stay connected for years. Communities need options that make everyone feel welcome, not like a guest in someone else’s space.
Future generations expect a more hospitality-focused, tech-enabled, and wellness-driven lifestyle. That means personalized experiences, smart technology that supports independence, and environments that feel active and socially connected.
When we renovate communities, we’re really bridging the gap between what worked in the past and what residents expect now, creating spaces that stay relevant, flexible, and proud to call home.
EFA: What’s one takeaway you hope attendees learn from your session?
Marvin: Inspiration to take the leap—get past the fear of getting weird and let your freak flag fly. Fear stops people from trying the things they actually want to do.
Find updates and additional information on the 2026 EFA Conference + Expo here.
