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Oak Trace in Downers Grove Takes Senior Housing and Landscaping Design to the Next Level DOWNERS GROVE–There's been a major evolution in the design and construction of senior housing. What was formerly a focus on functionality, accessibility and safety has remained essential but not exclusive. Now, senior housing also has to be aesthetically fabulous. Proof positive of this change is when Daniel Martin, partner with SAS Architects and Planners in Northbrook, Illinois, uses the words "delight and surprise" when describing the renovation and expansion project of Oak Trace senior living community in Downers Grove. Oak Trace is owned and operated by Lifespace Communities. Two of the three phases of the project, which first launched in 2015, have been completed. The first was the total replacement of the 1970s-era health center with its new upscale Health and Wellness Center. The second phase was the remodeling and refreshing of existing amenity spaces in independent living. The final step, the expansion slated for completion in 2024, is the addition of a new five-story building with luxury independent living apartments and shared clubhouse. Project Reevaluated and Reimagined with Resident and Depositor Input When the construction was stalled due to COVID, leadership took that time to reevaluate and reimagine the project's expansion portion. More feedback was sought by leadership at Lifespace Communities and Oak Trace. The result was that many design elements were implemented based on input and preferences from current and prospective residents of the senior living community. The subsequent plan added amenities, including a state-of-the-art fitness center and swimming pool, balconies on all the apartments, and optimization of natural daylight and open spaces throughout the campus. Complete internal connectivity to all levels of care in the Life Plan community was integrated into the revised plans. Landscaping features were significantly enhanced. Teska Associates in Evanston is the landscape architect firm partnering on the project "The idea was very much about providing a jewel for this area," said Martin. "The redesign was a bold, brave choice. It was a risk. The leadership intellectually saw there was an opportunity during a time of some uncertainty as well as delays during COVID. They took that time to reexamine the project and increase the amenities, and thus its appeal." Best In Class Since the start of the project, what has been consistent has been setting the community's standards to 'Best in Class'. This has successfully been achieved in the community's interior spaces and is now in the enhancements being integrated into the landscaping. Dazzling Landscaping "A major factor in what we're able to do with landscaping was possible because of the property's vast acreage. It's a big site. We didn't have to compress anything and, in fact, were able to stretch it out quite a bit. The size gave us a big drawing board to create new destinations," said Martin. An important element is the elimination of the "vast seas of asphalt, and instead, surrounding the campus with a lot of greenery," Martin said. "We are creating a landscape to surprise and delight people, with little nodules throughout the community, pods with different themes. We want people to explore the beautiful campus and find their favorite place." The choices for people to favor are abundant. "We have stayed on top of trends while bringing our own flair to the designs we're creating," said Martin. "The landscape design includes picturesque entryways, a treelined boulevard allowing glimpses of the building, and tree orchards boasting colors and texture. Multiple courtyards scattered throughout vary in size from small and private to large with firepits and space for large gatherings." There are pathways wrapping around the entire campus. Distinctive gardens throughout the space include a prairie garden with low-lying vegetation and shrubs, a sensory garden, a wind garden with plants that move majestically in the breeze, and a shade and butterfly garden. From the beginning and throughout the process, Lifespace and Oak Trace sought to engage the community through design meetings, presentations and surveys, and then, partway through the process, by pausing and reimagining the finished product. "The collaboration gave residents and depositors an important say in the project and impacted what we did with amenities. It has been a very fulfilling process, and we knew this would please future residents and make this feel like their home," said Martin. The culmination, he concluded, will be "lovely. There's a lot of love and a lot of pride invested in this project." To learn more about SAS Architects & Planners, visit at  www.sasarch.com .   Oak Trace Senior Living  Oak Trace senior living community in Downers Grove is set on more than 40 acres of landscaped grounds featuring gardens, walking paths, ponds and abundant greenspace. Oak Trace has private independent living apartments, as well as assisted living, memory care, skilled care and rehabilitation. The Life Care Community offers guaranteed lifelong care with predictable costs. Oak Trace is owned by Lifespace, a not-for-profit organization with more than 45 years of experience in senior living. To learn more about Oak Trace, visit www.OakTraceSeniorLiving.com .

SENIOR LIVING | Oak Trace in Downers Grove Takes Senior Housing and Landscaping Design to Next Level

Oak Trace in Downers Grove Takes Senior Housing and Landscaping Design to the Next Level

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U.S. News' Inaugural Best Senior Living Ratings Recognized The Arbor Company for Excellence in Assisted Living, Memory Care and Independent Living & Naperville's Arbor Terrace Is Among Them NAPERVILLE– The Arbor Company , a premier senior living operator with 46 locations across the country, today announced that 35 of its senior living communities were recognized by U.S. News & World Report as part of the inaugural Best Senior Living ratings. The Arbor locations are among senior living communities recognized by U.S. News & World Report that earned "best" status by achieving the highest possible rating in categories including independent living, assisted living and memory care. The designation of Best Senior Living is awarded based on feedback from nationwide consumer satisfaction surveys that reflect the viewpoints of current residents and their families. (For more information about the data analyzed, please refer to the methodology .) "It is an honor that 35 of our communities earned the highest rating from U.S. News, especially since residents and their families had a direct voice in the process," Judd Harper, The Arbor Company president, said. "Independent living, assisted living and memory care reflect the wide range of living options offered by Arbor so that our residents can enjoy their lives to the fullest." The inaugural U.S. News Best Senior Living ratings and profiles offer comprehensive information and exclusive analysis of consumer satisfaction data evaluating such factors as community and activity, food and dining, caregiving, and management and staff for nearly 2,500 communities in the continental U.S. and Hawaii. "Until now, families have had limited information when comparing providers of independent living, assisted living, memory care or continuing care," Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News & World Report, said. "The Best Senior Living ratings fill this informational gap with comprehensive and transparent data to help older consumers and their families identify high-quality senior living communities that meet their needs and preferences." Below is a list of The Arbor Company communities that earned "best" status along with the categories in which each one was recognized: Arbor Terrace at Cascade (Atlanta) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park (Tampa, Florida) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace at Crabapple (Alpharetta, Georgia) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace at Hamilton Mill (Dacula, Georgia) - Best Assisted Living Arbor Terrace at Kingwood Town Center (Kingwood, Texas) - Best Independent Living Arbor Terrace at Naperville (Naperville, Illinois) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Exton (Exton, Pennsylvania) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Fairfax (Chantilly, Virginia) - Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Glenview (Glenview, Illinois) - Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Lakeway (Lakeway, Texas) - Best Assisted Living Arbor Terrace Morris Plains (Morris Plains, New Jersey) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Mount Laurel (Mount Laurel, New Jersey) - Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of Asheville (Asheville, North Carolina) - Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of Athens (Athens, Georgia) - Best Assisted Living Arbor Terrace of Decatur (Decatur, Georgia) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of East Cobb (Marietta, Georgia) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of Highland Park (Highland Park, Illinois) - Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of Knoxville (Knoxville, Tennessee) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of Middletown (Middletown, New Jersey) - Best Independent Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace of Waugh Chapel (Gambrills, Maryland) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Peachtree City (Peachtree City, Georgia) - Best Independent Living, Best Assisted Living Arbor Terrace Roseland (Roseland, New Jersey) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Senior Living (Lanham, Maryland) - Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury (Tinton Falls, New Jersey) -Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace South Forsyth (Atlanta) - Best Assisted Living Arbor Terrace Sudley Manor (Manassas, Virginia) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Arbor Terrace Willistown (West Chester, Pennsylvania) - Best Assisted Living Barrington Terrace of Fort Myers (Fort Myers, Florida) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Barrington Terrace of Naples (Naples, Florida) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care Eden Terrace of Spartanburg (Spartanburg, South Carolina) - Best Assisted Living Summit of Uptown (Park Ridge, Illinois) - Best Assisted Living The Arbor at BridgeMill (Canton, Georgia) - Best Memory Care The Gardens at Eastside (Greenville, South Carolina) - Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care The Preserve at Palm-Aire (Pompano Beach, Florida) - Best Memory Care The Vantage at Cityview (Fort Worth, Texas) - Best Independent Living, Best Assisted Living, Best Memory Care ABOUT THE ARBOR COMPANY The Arbor Company is an Atlanta-based operator of more than 45 independent living, assisted living and dementia care communities, serving seniors in 11 states. With more than 30 years of dedication and experience, The Arbor Company strives to deliver the highest quality care and service to residents and their families. The Arbor Company has been designated a Great Place to Work and is listed on the Fortune Best Workplaces for Aging Services list. More information about The Arbor Company is available at www.ArborCompany.com . ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT U.S. News & World Report is the global leader in quality rankings that empower consumers, business leaders and policy officials to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. A multifaceted digital media company with Education, Health, Money, Travel, Cars, News and 360 Reviews platforms, U.S. News provides rankings, independent reporting, data journalism, consumer advice and U.S. News Live events. More than 40 million people visit USNews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C. SOURCE The Arbor Company SENIOR LIVING NAPERVILLE DUPAGE

SENIOR LIVING | Arbor Terrace at Naperville Among 35 Senior Living Communities Awarded by U.S. News

Congrats to Arbor Terrace at Naperville on this Special Achievement Award

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LEARN HOW THE ARTIS WAY CAN MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOUR LOVED ONE ARTIS SENIOR LIVING–Artis Senior Living is a brand new memory care community located in Bartlett, IL. Artis strives to make sure that its residents and their families have a say in how they live. Instead of a one-size-fits-all philosophy, the Artis experience is tailored specifically to each person in order to ensure independence, dignity and quality of life. To learn more about The Artis Way and to schedule a tour, call (630) 855-5939. #GlancerMagazine #Spotlights #HomeGarden #June12018DuPage #June12018Kane #DuPageCounty #KaneCounty #ArtisSeniorLiving #Bartlett

SENIOR LIVING | Brand New Memory Care Facility In Bartlett

LEARN HOW THE ARTIS WAY CAN MAKE LIFE EASIER FOR YOUR LOVED ONE ARTIS SENIOR LIVING–Artis Senior Living is a brand new memory care...

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