KIRKLAND, Wash. (May 8, 2026) — Transforming Age, a leading nonprofit network serving older adults, proudly celebrates the grand opening of Parkshore Juanita Bay, a first of its kind LEED Platinum-certified independent living community in the Pacific Northwest. Located between Juanita Park and Juanita Village, the new 50-unit community represents the culmination of more than a century of service and a bold step forward in sustainable senior living.
Parkshore Juanita Bay stands on a site deeply rooted in care and community. Originally founded in 1925 by the German Ladies Society and later known as the German Retirement Home, the organization was established to provide housing and care for aging members of the German community. Over time, the nonprofit expanded its mission to serve all older adults and eventually became The Gardens at Juanita Bay while remaining steadfast in its commitment to dignity, respect, and service.
With the strategic support of Transforming Age, that legacy has been thoughtfully reimagined for future generations. Parkshore Juanita Bay honors the mission and heritage of the German Retirement Home while positioning toward the evolving expectations of older adults through contemporary design, environmental stewardship, and a holistic approach to well-being.
“Parkshore Juanita Bay reflects what’s possible when mission, sustainability, and innovation come together,” said Torsten Hirche, President and CEO of Transforming Age. “This community carries forward a proud nonprofit legacy that began nearly a century ago while setting a new standard for how older adults live today and into the future.”
GSI, the development arm of Transforming Age, oversaw the Parkshore Juanita Bay from concept to completion. The community was designed by the architectural firm Perkins Eastman, with both architecture and interiors shaped to bring the outdoors in, maximize natural light, and integrate seamlessly with the surrounding wetlands and parkland. Exxel Pacific, a Pacific Northwest based general contractor, led construction of the project, working closely with the design team to deliver a highly sustainable, resident-centered community.
Nationwide, only a limited number of senior living communities have achieved LEED Platinum certification, placing this project among a small and highly differentiated group of sustainability leaders. Parkshore Juanita Bay’s LEED Platinum certification reflects a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship including rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient systems, rainwater collection and reuse, EV charging, and the preservation and restoration of the Juanita Bay creek and wetlands. Carefully selected landscaping supports pollinators and native species, reinforcing the community’s deep connection to place.
Equally central to the vision of Parkshore Juanita Bay is human connection. With just 50 apartment homes, all of which have been reserved, the community was intentionally designed to foster meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging. Founding residents played an active role throughout development, influencing apartment layouts, ceiling heights, storage solutions, color palettes, and sustainability features.
Future resident Antoinette Saiget shared her excitement for what lies ahead, saying, “I am so excited for this next journey and my soon to be neighbors becoming lifelong friends.”
In keeping with its nonprofit roots, Parkshore Juanita Bay reinforces Transforming Age’s commitment to serving people across the economic spectrum by including homes with more affordable pricing options for qualifying residents. Residents also benefit from access to Transforming Age’s broader network of health services for future care needs.
As part of its commitment to honor the site’s heritage, Transforming Age reserved space within the new community for the German Consulate, an enduring acknowledgment of the German Retirement Home’s origins and the generations who carried its mission forward.
With its doors now open, Parkshore Juanita Bay stands as a model for what senior living can be. It is sustainable, resident-centered, and rooted in purpose. More than a place to live, it is a continuation of a legacy reimagined for the future.
For more information, visit parkshorejuanitabay.org.
