Áegis Living Opens New Community in Seattle’s Ballard Neighborhood

April 2, 2024

BELLEVUE, WA — Áegis Living has opened Áegis Living Ballard in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood. The new community, Áegis Living’s 37th community, blends a distinctly Northwest aesthetic with Scandinavian heritage as a testament to Ballard’s rich maritime history and unique neighborhood.

“Ballard is an eclectic urban neighborhood known for its vibrancy and vitality, which made for the perfect location for our newest community, Áegis Living Ballard,” said Áegis Living founder/CEO Dwayne Clark in a press release. “We are honored to become a part of it, and to bring our exceptional care and services to our residents and families in a dynamic and desirable area they already know and love.”

Inspired by Ballard’s stories of canneries, fishing fleets, and the timber industry, Northwest and Nordic roots are blended in ways that are thoughtful, distinctive and unexpected:

• The building’s exterior reflects a cannery-style design reminiscent of the fishing industry that built Ballard in the early 1900s.
• The first floor features a spectacular, locally crafted 36-foot Viking ship hull suspended from the ceiling of the main hallway leading into the community.
• A beautiful art installation titled “The Compass” features a six-foot wheel that was designed and carved out of recycled wood by local artist Steve Jensen, who comes from a long line of Norwegian fisherman and boat builders.
• As you enter the building, a remarkable water feature and glass sculpture symbolizes spawning salmon and the Ballard Lock fish ladder. It includes 87 acrylic prisms that catch the light and change in color. The sculpture was designed by Yellow Goat Designs with the Áegis Interiors team.
• A cycling-themed sports lounge showcases the local cycling culture and gives a nod to the nearby Burke-Gilman Trail and in celebration of the annual Ballard Criterion. The lounge opens onto the main corridor and overlooks the Viking ship.

Throughout the interior of the new community, the Danish concept of “hygge” — a quality of coziness and comfort that fosters a feeling of community, contentment, and wellbeing — is ever-present. Natural light, organic textures and materials like leather and wood, and elements of nature create a cozy, tranquil and inviting space. Flowing from room to room is a soothing palette of coastal blues, nautical accents, and the calming sound of water.

“Because of our embrace of hygge, the community has a wonderful atmosphere that you can feel the moment you step inside,” said Paul Shepodd, general manager at Áegis Living Ballard. “It’s warm, it’s welcoming and makes you feel like you are coming home.”

In addition to its warm, welcoming design, Áegis Living Ballard prioritizes wellness and longevity at the forefront of its care. Programming focuses on extending the healthspan of residents, or the amount of time they are in good health. This includes supporting a healthy lifestyle through sleep, diet, exercise, and more. Ballard will be Áegis’ first community to feature a red-light therapy bed for residents; red light therapy has been clinically proven to increase circulation, reduce inflammation that causes joint or muscle pain, and support the immune system.

Other vital wellness offerings that support resident health and wellbeing include a massage room, fitness and balance studio, and onsite physical, occupational and speech therapies. Áegis’ resident care is supported by onsite nursing staff and a care team available around the clock. All meals are prepared by professionally trained chefs and are tailored to residents’ dietary needs, under the guidance of registered dieticians.

ALSO: Áegis Living Appoints Renowned Pulmonary and Sleep Expert Dasgupta Chief Medical Officer

“As we enter a new generation of senior living, how we age is changing. People are living longer,” said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, Áegis Living’s newly appointed chief medical officer. “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 wellbeing as they age.”

The four-story building features 88,000 square feet of space and 92 assisted-living apartments (studio, one- and two-bedroom). The community also offers memory care featuring Áegis’ Life’s Neighborhood dementia programming. Dahlin was the architecture firm and Ryan Companies was the general contractor.

The community recently hosted a grand opening celebration that included food, music, entertainment, and tours of the new community. Special guest Captain Keith Colburn, star of Deadliest Catch, presented a fun cooking demonstration and took photos with and signed autographs for attendees.

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, it operates 37 communities in Washington, California, and Nevada, with another one set to open in the Laurelhurst neighborhood of Seattle later this spring.