With 110 elegant studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, the 7.47-acre community offers resort-style amenities that cater to the values of Chinese culture, emphasizing beauty, symbolic elements, and most importantly, respect for seniors. Paying homage to traditional Chinese villages, the campus entrance is flanked by two guardian lions. Feng shui informed our framework for the main building, a geomancy approach that guides placements of foundational elements; in this case, the entry sequence, the stairs, community dining, and the like. Our early diagrams and concept sketches informed the entire project, including sustainable and biophilic elements—large, open spaces; expanses of glass that give natural daylight, rely less heavily on artificial lights, and take advantage of the site’s natural landscape; glulam curtain walls; a stunning variety of stone, tile, and marble—all of which help calm residents and visitors. These benefits extend to staff, who enjoy a beautiful, uplifting work environment. That’s a strong selling point for hiring and retaining employees in an industry known for considerable caregiver and support-staff turnover. Inside, richly appointed public spaces encourage socializing and feature authentic Chinese art and antiques: ceremonial tea rooms, mahjong gaming, a Tai Chi studio, an arts room for flower arranging, Chinese calligraphy and painting, a theater, community dining spaces (including a wood-fired duck oven). There’s even a wellness suite with a salon/barber, massage and acupuncture room, and a saltwater therapy pool. With Lake Boren only a short walk away, residents have fewer barriers to a healthy and active lifestyle, with opportunities for walking, paddle boating, and fishing. A picturesque garden courtyard gives residence space to quietly relax, while an exterior amphitheater fits large community gatherings. The adjacent multicultural center is designed to host respected speakers, exhibitions, performing arts, family gatherings, weddings, and celebrations. A first of its kind, the onsite bilingual preschool encourages understanding, respect, and acceptance between children and seniors. We designed Aegis Gardens Newcastle to become an epicenter for Chinese life in the Northwest—to set the gold standard for future such communities.

With an eye for cultural accuracy and respect, our design team began by immersing themselves in Chinese design, stylistic, and functional principles. We applied our lessons into a design for a community of Chinese-inspired assisted living, an international cultural center, and a bilingual and intergenerational preschool. Our work combines elegant Pacific Northwest craftsmanship with traditional Chinese aesthetic, informed by feng shui. Our dedication is front and center, from the moment visitors enter Aegis Newcastle’s main building: A huge, two-story lantern hangs in the entry, unequivocally setting the design tone, bringing light and warmth into the heart of the community. Feng shui informed how we placed foundational elements—the entry sequence, the stairs, the entry framework, community dining, and the like—and we relied on sustainable, biophilic elements to help calm residents and visitors. Open spaces; sweeping expanses of glass that bring in daylight, reduce the need for artificial lighting, and showcase the site’s natural landscape; glulam curtain walls; a stunning variety of stone, tile, and marble—all these elements bring tangible benefits to residents, visitors, and especially staff, who enjoy a beautiful, uplifting work environment. That’s a strong selling point for hiring and retaining employees in an industry known for significant caregiver and support-staff turnover. Inside, richly appointed public spaces feature authentic Chinese art and antiques: ceremonial tea rooms, mahjong gaming, a Tai Chi studio, an arts room for flower arranging, Chinese calligraphy and painting, a theater, a massage and acupuncture room, even a saltwater therapy pool. The dining room offers tranquil lake views and exhibition culinary spaces with a wood-fired duck oven, noodle bar, and wok stations for large, all-community meals. An adjacent smaller dining room and kitchen lets residents invite family for more intimate cooking experiences. We reflect the contrasting elements of fire and water throughout our design, with plenty of fireplaces and water features. Programmatically, we bridged another contrast—this time, between old and young—with a glass-enclosed breezeway that bridges the residential building to the cultural center and bilingual preschool, harmonizing with the surrounding Lake Boren and its wetlands and giving grandparents the chance to visit regularly with their grandchildren.