(Renderings courtesy of LRS Architects)
Terwilliger Plaza, a single-site nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), located in Portland, OR celebrates the completion and opening of Parkview, anticipated to be the largest Passive House structure on the West Coast, and the largest Passive House senior living building in the country. This expansion to the campus represents a community-supported commitment to the future vision of Terwilliger Plaza and sets a new standard for senior living.
LRS Architects worked in collaboration with Walsh Construction Co., engineering firm PAE, and Terwilliger Plaza on the project. Construction broke ground in May 2021.
“LRS continues to lead a shift in the mindset and modalities of senior living design. Parkview is an outstanding example of a long-term vision that meets the demand of today and tomorrow,” said Chuck Archer, principal at LRS. “The development offers member residents and visitors healthy, warm, and inviting spaces to enjoy. It builds upon the existing vibrancy of Terwilliger Plaza, which is recognized for its active and engaged community, and signals its commitment to revitalizing downtown Portland.”
LRS designed the $105-million Parkview expansion with an eye toward interconnectedness throughout the existing campus. Parkview is a 10-story building that adds 127 independent living apartments to the Terwilliger Plaza community, bringing the total number of residents up to 550. The 370,000-square-foot high-rise concrete structure connects to the existing campus via a new steel skybridge, the first of its kind within a new city policy that allows bridges for senior living communities. This creates a unified development that provides intentional connection and engagement throughout Terwilliger Plaza.
“The Parkview expansion and the iconic sky bridge is a point of pride for the Terwilliger Plaza community, a credit to Portland’s commitment to the environment and its senior population, challenging pre-conceived notions of senior living, and taking a leadership position in the senior living industry,” states Ryan Miller, president and CEO at Terwilliger Plaza.
LRS took inspiration from the surrounding Pacific Northwest region in its design, applying interior motifs of mountains and roses to complement the urban building design. Incorporating efficiency and renewable energy, the development makes use of solar window shades, energy-efficient appliances, and photovoltaic (PV) roof panels. Terwilliger Plaza’s dedication to sustainability is part of the community’s overriding ethos.
Parkview is designed to meet the rigorous design standards of Passive House, an international design certification program emphasizing healthy, comfortable, and highly energy-efficient living spaces. Parkview is projected to achieve a 42% reduction in energy consumption compared to average senior living buildings of comparable size, fulfilling the Terwilliger Plaza community’s shared commitment to sustainability.
“Our engineering analysis and design was bolstered by an integrated team that shared a vision for a unique senior living community,” said Ruwan Jayaweera, PE, LEED AP BD+C, principal at PAE. “By achieving Passive House goals, the project showcases how these principles balance cost, energy-efficiency, occupant comfort, and long-term carbon savings.”
“Parkview sets the bar high for sustainable building practices and aligns with our values of building communities and empowering people. These high-value, vibrant homes consume a fraction of the energy compared to average compliance standards and we are thrilled to be a part of this impactful project for our neighbors at Terwilliger Plaza,” stated Craig Leonnig, senior project manager at Walsh Construction.
“To see Parkview finally rise into the sky is so rewarding,” said LRS Principal Chuck Archer. “This project was years in the making, well before the first shovels went in the ground. Parkview is a culmination of vision and hard work, and LRS is excited to support the Terwilliger Plaza community and Board of Directors.”
Terwilliger Plaza is governed by a Board of Directors composed of a resident Member majority, which supports a representative self-governing leadership style that is a unique feature within the senior living industry.
About LRS Architects:
LRS Architects is a majority women-owned architecture and interior design firm with offices in Portland and Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1976, the award-winning practice is driven by a passion for good design that goes beyond aesthetics to create vibrant communities and spaces that support the well-being of those who inhabit them. With 120 design professionals, the firm is committed to partnering collaboratively with clients to positively shape the human experience through the physical environment. The diversity of the firm’s project experience provides a broad perspective and proven expertise in design, problem-solving, documentation, and project delivery methods. The firm’s work, while centered in the Pacific Northwest, is found throughout the United States in over 30 states, as well as in China, Canada, and Nicaragua. Recognized with dozens of awards, the practice’s work has been featured in hundreds of publications, including Architect, Fast Company, ENR, and Office Snapshots, among many others. LRS is an Oregonian Top Workplace Award Winner 2016-2023.
About Terwilliger Plaza:
Established in 1962, Terwilliger Plaza is a single-site nonprofit Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), offering a continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, and memory support, with 24/7 on site licensed nursing within assisted living. One of only two CARF accredited CCRC’s in the state of Oregon, Terwilliger Plaza is distinctive in its representative self-governance board structure. Located in Portland, Oregon, the community comprises resident Members who are volunteers, patrons, educators, and active participants in the city’s vibrant culture of civic duty and personal responsibility. terwilligerplaza.com.
About Walsh Construction:
Founded in 1961 by brothers Tom and Bob Walsh, Walsh Construction Co. (WALSH) is a Pacific Northwest general contractor headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with offices in Seattle, Tacoma and Vancouver, Washington. Working with organizations that make fundamental contributions to the community has always been at the heart of our business; we are committed to understanding and supporting our clients’ missions. We are a Northwest leader in multi-family, senior living and affordable housing construction. WALSH’s areas of expertise also include mixed-use; student and market-rate housing; healthcare; hospitality; and education. We have an exceptional level of expertise in wood-framed buildings, as well as a broad spectrum of other construction types, including concrete, structural steel, mass timber (CLT), and modular construction. WALSH is committed to diversity within our own ranks, and with our business and trade partners. Internally, we build a culture of community and inclusion for our employees—one where they are empowered to demonstrate our company value of generosity by giving back to the broader community. We are passionate about building responsibly for a sustainable future and the delivery of high-performance, green buildings. We place a high priority on creating healthy, durable and highly energy-efficient buildings, understanding that a building that uses less energy will reduce environmental impacts and operating costs. We are about the marathon, not the sprint—and we understand that partnership and innovation take time through investment in people and ideas. walshconstruction.com.
About PAE:
Established in 1967 with six offices along the West Coast from Seattle to Los Angeles, PAE is a firm of 350 providing services in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering, building performance analysis, technology design, and architectural lighting design by LUMA, a service group within PAE. We work with clients to design the highest performing built environments that enhance working, learning, and healing within them while restoring our planet. Our commitment to solving the energy and water crisis is at the forefront of everything we do. To learn more visit pae-engineers.com.
