Áegis Living Opens New Community in Laurelhurst, Washington

May 8, 2024

BELLEVUE, WA — Áegis Living has opened Áegis Living Laurelhurst, a new community inspired by Seattle’s historic Laurelhurst neighborhood and the collegiate experience.

“The UW and Laurelhurst have a long history of academic, cultural, and architectural excellence,” Áegis Living founder/CEO Dwayne Clark said in a press release. “We’re thrilled to be joining this dynamic neighborhood and allowing our residents to embrace everything it has to offer and enjoy its youthful spirit and tradition. The close proximity to campus means that our residents have lectures, concerts, and their favorite Husky teams right on their doorstep.”

The unique design of Áegis Living Laurelhurst combines “collegiate gothic” architecture inspired by the University of Washington with the historical Tudor and craftsman-style of the Laurelhurst neighborhood. Situated on a triangular lot, the building’s brick and sculpted stone exterior with tall turrets suggests a castle. Other notable exterior features include a restored sidewalk clock from Benton’s Jewelers, an iconic symbol of the neighborhood’s early businesses. Park-like grounds feature walkable paths, landscaped green spaces, and chess and checker tables throughout the property.

Inspiration from the UW and surrounding area is present throughout the community:

• “The Alumni Club,” a beautiful sky lounge, overlooks Laurelhurst and has views of the UW campus in the distance.
• Residents can celebrate the Apple Cup and other big games on an outdoor terrace with a miniature football field and a custom RV for tailgating. There’s also a purple and gold golf cart that looks like a football helmet, similar to the one the UW rolls out when they score a touchdown at Husky Stadium.
• “The Arboretum” is the community’s private dining room named after the nearby Washington Park Arboretum.
• The sports-themed pub known as “Varsity” features historic photos of college campus life, former athletes, games, and events.
• The community’s cinema, “The Avenue Theater,” is named after University Avenue — better known as “The Ave” — the main street in the University District.
• “Clara’s” salon is named after one of the first women students to graduate from the university and “Dub’s Barbershop,” a tribute to UW’s live mascot, offers onsite haircuts.
• The main dining room, named “The University Club,” features whimsical artwork that represents the journey of self-discovery people experience when embarking on new experiences, along with a stately stone fireplace, deep wood trim, and sculpted ceilings reminiscent of the elegant collegiate clubs.

“Just like going off to college, we’re giving our residents a chance to be a part of a vibrant community filled with new people and experiences,” said David Watkins, general manager at Áegis Living Laurelhurst. “We’re a community that encourages personal growth and choices. Residents can reinvent themselves or celebrate the person they’ve become over a well-lived life.”

Located in the shadow of the University of Washington in Seattle’s Laurelhurst neighborhood, Áegis Living Laurelhurst prioritizes wellness and longevity, with programming focusing on extending the “healthspan” of residents — the amount of time they are in good health. This includes supporting a healthy lifestyle through sleep, diet, exercise, and more.

“As we enter a new generation of senior living, how we age is changing,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, Áegis Living’s newly appointed chief medical officer. “People are living longer and rethinking how they want to spend their later years. We’re committed to elevating our care for residents by creating innovative wellness and longevity initiatives that can positively influence the healthspan of our residents and help them experience better overall health and well-being as they age.”

ALSO: Áegis Living Opens New Community in Seattle’s Ballard Neighborhood

Áegis develops personalized wellness and longevity plans for all residents, which include access to onsite physical, occupational, and speech therapies and nursing staff who are available 24/7. All meals are prepared by expert chefs and tailored to meet residents’ dietary needs, with guidance from registered dieticians. Áegis Living Laurelhurst also features a massage room, and fitness and balance studio, and it offers memory care featuring Áegis’ Life’s Neighborhood dementia programming.

Áegis Living Laurelhurst will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, May 11, 2024, including food, music, entertainment and tours of the community. New UW Head Coach Jedd Fisch and former Husky/NFL quarterback Damon Huard will be on hand to cut the ribbon and sign autographs. Guests can also meet UW’s other famous celebrity, Harry the Husky, and enjoy the UW Pep Band and the UW Alumni band. Guests will also be able to create complimentary Mother’s Day bouquets provided by local florist Blue Poppy.

Áegis Living Laurelhurst is Áegis’ 38th community and the second one to open this year. The six-story building features 147,911 square feet of space and 136 assisted-living apartments (studio, one- and two-bedroom). Áegis Development LLC is the developer, Ankrom Moisan Architects is the architecture firm, and Exxel Pacific is the general contractor.

With more than 26 years of experience, Áegis Living is a privately held company that offers assisted living and memory care. Headquartered in this Seattle suburb, its 38 communities are in Washington, California, and Nevada. Áegis Living has a number of additional communities in development, with Áegis Living San Rafael set to open in summer 2025.