Lisa Israel, CEO and President of La Posada, and Joni Condi, COO and Senior VP of La Posada, are working to build a community that promotes healthy aging, gives residents ample freedom of choice, and creates a sense of belonging in which they may thrive. To bring this vision to life, Israel and Condi have partnered with Diversified Design and Construction, landscaping firm Talley Associates, interior design firm THW Design, and three: living architecture to create Nakoma Sky.
Nakoma Sky is a 70-acre, desert-resort senior living community designed for an active lifestyle. La Posada, a nonprofit senior living organization that owns and manages properties, has engaged three: living architecture to design a living environment that connects its residents to the outdoors, not only visually but also socially. With more than 30 years of experience designing luxury hospitality and senior living, three, in conjunction with La Posada has created a vision that will welcome current and future generations to a leisure resort-lifestyle that encourages growth and wellness.
“Oro Valley is just north of Tucson, a resort destination that is perfect for the vision we are going to bring to reality,” Gary Koerner, AIA, NCARB, President of three: living architecture, said in a press release. “The property is nestled in the valley foothills between Catalina and Saguaro Mountain Ranges, with a picturesque backdrop of vivid mountains that are illuminated in warm, brilliant colors twice a day at sunrise and sunset. With the natural surroundings being breathtaking on their own, we aimed to put together a layout with buildings that would maximize views from any point on the property, while also being mindful of the community’s impact on the environment. The result of our creative endeavors is a ‘Neo-Wrightian’ desert-architectural-style community nested into the desert landscape with unobstructed views of the nearby mountain ranges, offering indoor and outdoor living experiences.”
Rendering courtesy of three: living architecture
Nakoma Sky is a 500,000-sf community that is estimated to cost between $90 and $100 million. It’s a sizable project featuring 220 spacious independent living apartments available in one, two and three bedroom floorplans, as well as 24 assisted living apartments and 24 memory care apartments. The five-story community will sit above an underground parking garage located beneath the independent living entry court. In addition, residents will be able to enjoy amenities in common areas scattered throughout the campus, including: resident lounges, a library, a fitness center overlooking the mountains, areas for multi-purpose use, art studios/crafting rooms, meeting spaces, a salon, varying dining venues, and outdoor recreational areas.
One of the most notable outdoor amenities is a 3,400-sf infinity pool located near the heart of the community. The pool, which features customized acoustics and lighting, has a mist curtain that acts as a screen for movies to be projected on. Other artistic outdoor amenities include a sculpture garden, a stargazing platform, a yoga lawn, courtyards with splash pools for children, dog parks, hiking trails, a playground, fireplaces, BBQ grills, outdoor dining venues, an aerobics pool, and desert gardens. The architectural team wanted to create outdoor spaces where residents could host parties or meet for gatherings.
For indoor amenities, three incorporated expansive windows allowing sunshine to spill into the community. The roof forms compliment the mountains’ angles and allow for tiered viewpoints. The entire design is geared toward a well-traveled active resident who wants to live life to the fullest.
Rendering courtesy of three: living architecture
Related Stories
Senior Living Design | Jul 23, 2024
The growing importance of cultural representation in senior living communities
Perkins Eastman architect Mwanzaa Brown reflects on the ties between architecture, interior design, and the history and heritage of a senior living community’s population.
Vertical Transportation | Jul 12, 2024
Elevator regulations responsible for some of ballooning multifamily costs
Codes and regulations for elevators in the United States are a key factor in inflating costs of multifamily development, argues a guest columnist in the New York Times.
MFPRO+ New Projects | Jul 10, 2024
3 noteworthy multifamily projects for July 2024
These three multifamily projects on our radar include an artist-inspired complex, seven-acres of senior housing, and a budget-conscious rental community.
Student Housing | Jul 1, 2024
Two-tower luxury senior living community features wellness and biophilic elements
A new, two-building, 27-story senior living community in Tysons, Va., emphasizes wellness and biophilic design elements. The Mather, a luxury community for adults aged 62 and older, is situated on a small site surrounded by high-rises.
Senior Living Design | Jun 28, 2024
The country’s largest retirement community expands with educational facilities
The project will include a high school, a K-8 school, and an Early Learning Center aimed at serving the children of residents who work in qualified businesses within The Villages.
Senior Living Design | Jun 24, 2024
Not your grandparents’ senior living community: Redefining aging in place
Perkins Eastman’s Senior Living and Residential teams are putting a new face on home for seniors who don’t want to move away in retirement.
Senior Living Design | Jun 13, 2024
Crystal Pacific Windows bring sunshine to senior living community
Crystal Pacific Window & Door Systems, the West Coast production affiliate of national manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems, recently supplied over 400 energy efficient vinyl windows for a new affordable housing community in San Diego, Calif.
Affordable Housing | Jun 12, 2024
Studio Libeskind designs 190 affordable housing apartments for seniors
In Brooklyn, New York, the recently opened Atrium at Sumner offers 132,418 sf of affordable housing for seniors. The $132 million project includes 190 apartments—132 of them available to senior households earning below or at 50% of the area median income and 57 units available to formerly homeless seniors.
MFPRO+ News | May 28, 2024
ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification for New Homes and Apartments launched
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently launched ENERGY STAR NextGen Certified Homes and Apartments, a voluntary certification program for new residential buildings. The program will increase national energy and emissions savings by accelerating the building industry’s adoption of advanced, energy-efficient technologies, according to an EPA news release.
MFPRO+ News | May 20, 2024
Florida condo market roiled by structural safety standards law
A Florida law enacted after the Surfside condo tower collapse is causing turmoil in the condominium market. The law, which requires buildings to meet certain structural safety standards, is forcing condo associations to assess hefty fees to make repairs on older properties. In some cases, the cost per unit runs into six figures.