Panorama Senior Housing and KTGY Architecture + Planning to Create Amenity-Rich Senior Community in Eagle Rock
April 7, 2020
LOS ANGELES – Panorama Senior Housing is developing the Assisted Living and Memory Care Community at 4900 Eagle Rock Boulevard. KTGY Architecture + Planning (KTGY) is the architect of the new community in Los Angeles’ Eagle Rock neighborhood. Groundbreaking is anticipated for early 2021, with completion in late 2022.
The total of 109 resident rooms includes 87 assisted-living rooms and 22 rooms for residents experiencing cognitive decline. The rooms are divided between two separate buildings – one that is five stories and the other that is four stories plus a rooftop deck – both connected by a ground-level courtyard and a subsurface parking structure. The community creatively combines a full range of amenities and common areas within a constrained urban site.
“This site was quite challenging because we had to fit a commercial kitchen, large dining room, and a ton of other amenities in two separate buildings. In fact, about 45% of the gross area of the building is dedicated to common area compared to 15% for typical apartment buildings. That said, KTGY came through and designed something spectacular,” said Panorama Senior Housing Founder and Principal Daniel Kianmahd.
“The new community is an innovative response to multiple needs,” said KTGY Associate Principal Ben Seager AIA, LEED AP. “First and foremost, it provides much needed assisted living for those requiring a professional, comfortable environment. The site plan makes efficient use of a tight, urban footprint. And it does all this with an attractive design respecting the close-knit community of Eagle Rock.”
Rendering of Eagle Rock Assisted Living and Memory Care Center by KTGY Architecture + Planning. Link here to high-resolution image
Among the challenges was devising ways to accommodate multiple common areas plus resident rooms within two relatively compact buildings. Solutions include flexible spaces combining uses, and creating the rooftop amenities deck.
“Real estate is no longer comprised of fixed spaces dedicated to a single use,” Kianmahd said. “New office and retail spaces transform into event space after 6 p.m. Single-family homes have open floorplans where the line between living and dining room is blurred. We adopted the same idea by creating ‘flex space’ wherever possible so residents could invite their loves ones for large gatherings, such as Mother’s Day brunches and Super Bowl parties without space concerns.”
“We maximized space,” said Seager. “For example, we used modern ‘accordion doors’ within the theater, activities rooms and other common areas, so that these places can expand when there are group events and visiting families. And the rooftop offers room for bocce ball, BBQ, putting green and other fresh-air activities.”
Common areas and amenities at the assisted living community include: a dining room serving three meals a day, a bistro for snacks, activity room, theater, hair salon, library/living room, physical therapy/fitness room, outdoor game room.
“I grew up in Los Angeles and spent most of my career here. Therefore, as a local, I’m keenly aware of the scarcity of developable sites. The solution is to get creative with layouts so we can build the housing needed to combat the housing crisis,” said Kianmahd, “Every day I get up, my goal is to combine my understanding of urban L.A., mix in my seven years in the senior housing industry and hundreds of assisted living building tours, and then come up with buildings that reflect the urban setting. That’s where Baby Boomers want to age, in the same urban neighborhood where they raised their families.”
Kianmahd also noted that the new center addresses a severe shortage of this type of housing, a big part of the overall housing crisis in California and the U.S.
“Seniors have few viable options for aging,” he added. “Retrofitting their existing homes can be very costly and create new financial burdens. And when they feel like remaining in their existing homes is their best option, it creates a bottleneck in the housing supply by precluding entry-level homes from younger families.”
Rock the Boulevard
Site planning for the Eagle Rock Assisted Living and Memory Care Center consciously fits with the community’s revitalization plan called Rock the Boulevard – a $16.2 million makeover of the street intended to create a safer and more attractive destination. The recently approved improvements will include wider sidewalks, crosswalk improvements, ADA-compliant ramps, landscaping, public art and parking-protected bike lanes.
“We’re excited to design a community that will be an important part of the boulevard’s upswing,” said Seager. “This is not a mixed-use building, but we placed its public-facing buildings toward the front so that it functions like one. Inside and outside, this is a huge gain for seniors and the neighborhood.”
Developer
Panorama Senior Housing
Architect
KTGY Architecture + Planning
Resident rooms
109 Guest Rooms (no kitchens) comprised of:
87 assisted living rooms and 22 rooms for residents experience cognitive decline
Estimated timeline
Groundbreaking in Q1 2021; opening in Q4 2022
Floors
Two separate buildings over one subterranean parking garage:
A five-story building and a four-story building with rooftop space.
Each floor has its own dedicated common area and dining room.
Total square footage
72,000 sf
Common areas/amenities
Dining room serving three meals a day, bistro for snacks, activities room, theater, hair salon, library/living room, physical therapy/fitness room, locker rooms, balconies, rooftop deck with bocce ball, corn hole, putting green and BBQ
About Panorama Senior Housing
Based in Beverly Hills, Panorama Senior Housing (PSH) is a senior housing real estate development company, specifically focused on urban neighborhoods in Los Angeles. Founder, Principal, and L.A. native Daniel Kianmahd launched PSH in 2016 recognizing that seniors seek to age in place, in the communities where they raised their families, and urban Los Angeles neighborhoods are woefully under-supplied in senior housing. Panorama utilizes its local market knowledge, an award-winning professional team, and its dedicated focus on senior housing to build independent living, assisted living, and memory care that is thoughtful, uplifting and innovative. With a successful track record in land acquisitions and entitlements, intimate understanding of senior housing operations, and expertise in real estate finance, Panorama is leading the senior housing industry in building much-needed senior housing in Los Angeles. Panorama is currently under construction on the first purpose-built memory care facility ever built in the City of Los Angeles, which will be completed in Q2 2021. Panorama’s development pipeline is valued at over $130 million. Additional information is available at www.accesspanorama.com.
About KTGY Architecture + Planning
Founded in 1991, KTGY Architecture + Planning is a leading architecture and design firm focused on residential and mixed-use developments and neighborhood revitalization. KTGY seamlessly delivers innovation, artistry and attention to detail across multiple design studios, ensuring that clients and communities get the best the firm has to offer no matter the building type or location. KTGY’s architects and planners combine big picture opportunities, leading-edge sustainable practices and impeccable design standards to create memorable destinations of enduring value. KTGY serves clients worldwide from offices located in Chicago, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, Oakland, Pune (India) and Tysons. See www.ktgy.com.
