San Jose-based Architect Receives 2 Senior Housing Awards

Steinberg Group brings home a Platinum and Silver Award for one completed project and one under construction.

Steinberg Group received the Silver Award from NAHB for Claremont Manor, an 86-unit complex in the eastern Los Angeles County city of Claremont (photo courtesy of Steinberg Group).

Steinberg Group, a San Jose-based architectural, planning and interior design firm, recently received two awards from the Seniors Housing Council of the National Association of Home Builders.

The Classic Residence by Hyatt, a 500-unit project being built on a 22-acre site in Palo Alto by Milpitas-based Devcon Construction, received the Platinum award. Claremont Manor, a completed 86-unit complex in the small eastern Los Angeles County city of Claremont, received the Silver award.

"Senior housing has become a critical component of our urban landscape," said Steinberg principal Rob Steinberg. "With the aging baby boomers, it will continue to become an important element in the housing market. These designs strive to address the unique needs of the seniors market, and we are truly honored by this recognition."

A 12-member panel of architects, designers, builders and marketing professionals judged each project on how effectively it responded to the housing demands of the burgeoning 50+ market as well as its innovative architectural and interior design, among other criteria.

Classic Residence by Hyatt is an upscale community that consists of 388 independent living apartments, a 106-unit residential care center with 38 assisted living apartments, 24 memory-support suites and 44 skilled nursing beds. Common areas will include dining rooms, a fitness center, heated indoor pool, clubroom and lounge, library, general store and meeting rooms.

Located on Stanford University's west campus, the area was envisioned as a vibrant, multigenerational environment designed to link the nearby medical center with the larger community.

The master plan, of which the senior living community is one component, links the university and medical center on one side with a major regional shopping center on the other. As part of the process, 500-year-old trees were saved and the community has committed to planting another 200 trees by the time the project is completed in August 2005.

The overall goal behind the design of the 16-acre Claremont Manor was to revitalize an existing community and add a skilled nursing component to provide a continuing-care environment. The facility provides a wide range of housing options, including 198 independent-living units, 43 assisted-living units and a 59-bed skilled nursing building.

Designed to complement the existing campus-like environment, the new center replaced a 30-year-old facility and provides residents with larger rooms fully equipped to accommodate today's sophisticated medical equipment. The surrounding 125-year-old community is well known for its tree-lined streets, historic buildings and the prestigious Claremont Colleges. The site itself houses more than 200 heritage trees, many of which date back to the turn of the century. The self-contained campus also includes a computer room, convenience store, pool, fitness center and community gardens.

Special design features that assist residents include new pedestrian circulation paths, which are designed to promote a wellness program and redistributing parking for easier access by residents.