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Luxury senior community breaks ground on tree-lined Texas property (architecture by *three*)

Luxury senior community breaks ground on tree-lined Texas property (architecture by *three*)

In the middle of the burgeoning Dallas suburb of Plano, construction is now under way on The Outlook at Windhaven, a community designed by national architecture firm and experts in senior living three (threearch.com).
Conceived for nonprofit owner-developer Forefront Living to support their goal of expanding offerings throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and beyond, the 18-acre development is designed by three under Greystone Development’s leadership to support a purposeful lifestyle for seniors in an amenity-rich environment. Totaling approximately 530,000 square feet of development, The Outlook at Windhaven will serve residents across the continuum of care with 30 independent living cottage homes, 153 independent living apartments, and a 56-unit building for assisted living and memory care.
According to Carl Ede, AIA, LEED AP, principal and senior designer with three, The Outlook at Windhaven is noteworthy for a distinctive aesthetic that is high-end and hospitality-inspired while still being authentic and unpretentious.
“The design takes inspiration from the beautiful, existing grove of trees along a small creek on the farmland where we’re building,” says Ede. “The cottages and other units are oriented so that the expansive windows offer views of the tree-lined setting. All independent living units will feature a great room connected to a balcony or patio to allow residents to stay connected to nature.”
Along with three’s other principals, Ede led a pre-design visioning session with Forefront Living CEO Tim Mallad and his marketing team. The discussion of what appeals to their target resident included an emphasis on a “park-like” setting and strong visual connections to nature, as well as the goal of a community with a “front porch feel,” where residents encounter each other sporadically throughout the day, instead of just in the dining room at meal times.
Says Mallad, “The campus plan organizes the amenities and residences to create a sense of community and neighborliness. The plan artfully balances security and privacy with opportunities to connect residents and staff with beautifully landscaped walking paths and courtyard enclaves. The cottages all have real front porches, creating a neighborhood feel.” He notes that three’s plan arranges the centralized amenities buildings to form a casual courtyard, a gesture that optimizes views within the dining facility and provides an ideal setting for outdoor gatherings.
“The team at three always delivers,” adds Mallad. “Their approach maximized our ability to develop the site while creating a superior resident experience. They also created efficiency for our culinary team, with a single kitchen producing meals for the community’s three different dining venues.”
Ede and his team also created a materials palette for a clean, modern aesthetic that pays homage to the Texas Hill Country. For example, the five-story apartment building will feature a façade that combines Texas limestone at ground level with stucco above and wood-look siding covering the top floors.