Reflecting Hillsboro’s agrarian roots and initiating a new community in what was once an open field, The Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing is senior housing designed around a shared back-of-house spine that supports both the memory care and assisted living / independent living wings. It’s a practical structure, giving senior residents easy access to shared amenities like a commercial kitchen. It prioritizes a biophilic design approach, offering beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes. The interior of The Ackerly contains many respites from the hustle and bustle of life, whether it’s in social amenities like dining areas, lounges, game rooms, and the theater, or in beautifully finished courtyards that open to fresh air, sunlight, and plant life. Our expansive, refined interior spaces bring in generous natural light. A soothing color palette connects the interior spaces to the outdoors, as do vibrant, organic patterns and materials. Experienced as a whole, these elements unify the indoor-outdoor experiences of the dual urban/rural design concept. This holistic design approach proved its worth in more than just aesthetics. Early in the design process we – like everyone else – faced a global pandemic. Multipurpose functionality became a central consideration. The formerly single-purpose functions were adapted to accommodate pandemic restrictions. Outdoor spaces were used for family visits. We designed a larger, more friendly entry vestibule. The memory care rooms, meant to be shared, were switched to all-private rooms. We even designed separate HVAC air cycling, should it become necessary to isolate segments of the memory care area. Designing for operational flexibility meant designing for the future. Since the independent living units meet code requirements for assisted living, they can be converted to an assisted living unit if that need arises. Each time we’re fortunate enough to work with Rembold, we learn more. On The Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing especially, we learned about prioritizing senior communities for residents’ wellbeing.