KIRKLAND, Wash. (October 23, 2024) –– Transforming Age, a leading nonprofit network of affiliates serving older adults, today celebrated the groundbreaking of Parkshore Juanita Bay, the first LEED Platinum-certified retirement community in the Pacific Northwest. The 50-unit independent living community is set to redefine the standards of active residential living while advancing Net Zero initiatives and promoting sustainable well-being for all residents.
Located between Juanita Park and Juanita Village, Parkshore Juanita Bay will be a satellite independent living community. Residents will have access to continuing care benefits from the local network of Transforming Age communities. The architecture firm Via – A Perkins Eastman Studio designed the community with a strong emphasis on sustainability and bringing the outdoors in, maximizing natural light, and utilizing materials that blend seamlessly with the environment. The project integrates eco-friendly features, including energy-efficient building materials, state-of-the-art water conservation systems, and extensive green spaces that complement the natural beauty of Juanita Bay.
“We are incredibly proud to launch this pioneering community, the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest to achieve LEED Platinum certification,” said Torsten Hirche, President and CEO of Transforming Age. “This milestone underscores our unwavering dedication to serve the triple bottom line: mission-impact, sustainability, and efficiency – and providing our residents the highest quality of life.”
Nathan Miller, senior energy engineer at IMEG, added, “Rather than simply tacking on a few green features to a cookie-cutter design, Transforming Age and the design team focused on the areas that would have the most impact based on the unique characteristics of the project and clientele. The result is a building that provides residents with filtered, fresh air from high-efficiency energy recovery ventilators, year-round comfort from variable-refrigerant-flow heat pumps, and renewable energy produced on-site. All of these systems reduce the energy consumption of the building without compromising on the quality of residents’ lived experience.”
LEED features that contribute to Parkshore Juanita Bay’s Platinum certification include:
- A rooftop garden to provide green space
- Solar panels on the roof to generate clean, renewable energy
- EV charging stations at every parking spot
- Regenerative and sustainable finishes and materials throughout the building
- Preservation of the wetlands and creek that run through the community
- Carefully chosen fauna that attracts local species, including a butterfly sanctuary
- Rainwater collection and repurposing system for water conservation
With just 50 units, social connection is also one of the property’s primary emphases. In a commitment to accessible housing for all, five currently waitlisted units have more affordable pricing for those below 50 percent of the area median income.
Natalie Faulker, director of sales and marketing at Parkshore Juanita Bay, highlighted the unique involvement of founding residents in the project: “Our founding residents really take ownership in this community we are building together. They’ve been an integral part of the design process, leading to significant enhancements such as underground parking, increased ceiling heights, onsite storage units, environmentally friendly electric fireplaces, and larger apartment homes. They even selected the color palettes and have the ability to customize their units.”
Parkshore Juanita Bay is being built on the former site of The Gardens at Juanita Bay, which joined the Transforming Age network in 2018. The Gardens at Juanita Bay was founded over 100 years ago as a “home dedicated to caring for aging residents of the tight-knit German community.” With the strategic support of Transforming Age, the community’s legacy, mission, and nonprofit roots have a sustainable future. Transforming Age continues to honor the community’s deep heritage by dedicating a space for the German Consulate in the new community, as promised in the affiliation.
The new community is scheduled to welcome its first residents in early 2026, with construction led by local contractor Exxel Pacific. Six units are still available for reservation. Interested residents can find more information about Parkshore at Juanita Bay, by visiting parkshorejuanitybay.org to Wildwood Court Apartments, marking a significant step forward in HUD’s mission to enhance the quality of life for low-income residents,” said HUD Northwest Regional Administrator Andrew Lofton. “These crucial upgrades will provide safer, more energy-efficient homes, demonstrating our commitment to building a greener future for all.”