This project is the first assisted living community built to meet Living Building Challenge 3.1 Petal Certification. Inspired by the natural beauty of the lake setting, and the local history of the 1936 Berlin Olympic gold medal winning UW rowing team, Aegis Living Lake Union beautifully represents the region’s remarkable past, while providing residents with a healthy and sustainable quality of life for the future. Throughout the building’s design there is a nod to the beautiful patterns created by the rhythm of the oars through water, which can be seen in the herringbone detailing around windows and the entry canopy. The wood ceilings are derived from a Pacific Northwest company and procured sustainably. Aegis Living Lake Union is a celebration of the beauty found in sustainability, with a focus on creating a community that aims to advance the health and wellbeing of each resident. The high-utility common areas grouped together on the ground floor have been designed to encourage accidental social interactions. These ground floor amenities include opportunities for dining, a hair salon, fitness center, and cinema, all open to the public. The dining room and courtyard found on the second floor fulfill the need for socialization and interaction for residents needing Memory Care. The Living Building Challenge pushed boundaries and extended our working relationship with Aegis Living to meet a myriad of complex goals. Undertaken during COVID, and located on a hillside overlooking the water, this revolutionary project was challenging; the excellent design was hard earned and will be a feature of the neighborhood for a long time. The sustainable design allows for this community to be emission-free and energy efficient by harnessing solar power. The building has reduced its overall energy draw by 25% through features such as an enhanced thermal envelope, triple pane windows, thermal insulation at exterior walls, and heat recovery through forced-air ventilation. Other energy reducing features include a recirculating heat pump system, LED lighting and sensors to monitor use, and the sourcing of sustainable materials. Additionally, rainwater is captured, and greywater is treated and recirculated for non-drinking water, saving more than 140,000 gallons of water per year. By elevating indoor air quality, mindfully utilizing Red List Free building materials, and prioritizing environmental stewardship, our aspiration is to create spaces that enhance wellbeing. By highlighting the beauty of Lake Union, elevating the rich history inspired by the UW Olympic Rowing team, and celebrating a fully sustainable building, we aimed to integrate this building with the city of Seattle and provide a healthy home that would encourage seniors to live their best lives.

Inspired by the history of the University of Washington’s 1936 Olympic Rowing team and the first assisted living community built to meet the rigid Living Building Challenge 3.1 Petal Certification, Aegis Living Lake Union uniquely combines a rich local history while providing residents with a sustainable and healthy living standard that far exceeds any other senior community in the US. Upon entering the double height lobby space, you are drawn towards a 2-story cascading waterfall; artfully created to look as if it has existed there for years. Celebrating the beauty of the classic boathouse, the ceiling features an original pocock racing shell that spans the lengths of the ceiling and designed intentionally to represent the unique patterns created as oars move effortlessly through the water. Similar design elements can be found throughout the building, down to details such as the living room chandeliers that echo the shape of the blade on rowing oars. The exterior of the building presents a full-size mural of the historic Olympic team, and another internal mural pays tribute to each rower. Aegis Living Lake Union is welcoming and beautiful, a marvelous neighborhood addition. Ties to nature are abundant, from the patterns in the custom casework, to the wood ceilings and natural slate floors. Our Interiors team emphasized biophilic principles throughout the entirety of the building. Natural light spills out of the spacious dining room where residents can enjoy a meal with the company of friends or host private events in the Champions Lounge. The first floor is a hub for the community, a vibrant and connected space for residents and friends to come together. The living room is adjoined to the activity room, where residents and their guests can participate in a range of activities and social gatherings or connect with friends to chat about which movie they plan to watch at the Lake Cinema. Located on the top floor, “The Splash” Sky Lounge encourages residents to take advantage of the sweeping view of Lake Union and the Space Needle as well as the entire Seattle Skyline. We intentionally created dynamic environments that allow residents to use the space to suit their needs, whether quiet and peaceful, active and social, or anywhere in between. Aegis Living Lake Union is a celebration of the best quality and healthiest materials available to support and encourage residents to live life the way they want in a healthy wellness inspired and encouraged community.