We are very proud to announce Harbor’s Edge River Tower was voted 2022’s Best Designed Life Plan Community by the Senior Housing News (SHN) Architecture & Design Awards.
The SHN Architecture & Design Awards is an annual competition that determines the nation’s best-designed senior living communities and services. Each award is judged by a panel of expert architects and senior living professionals to determine the leading edge of our industry based on the following criteria: Design and Aesthetics, Community Integration, and Amenities and Lifestyle.
And after reaching the final stages of voting in 2022, Harbor’s Edge River Tower took the top spot on January 10, 2023.
Two Towers, One Community
Harbor’s Edge River Tower sprang from the mind of CEO Neil Volder in 2017. Neil wanted to expand seamlessly into the Norfolk community while maintaining the Harbor’s Edge aesthetic and feel of elevated luxury living.
“Harbor’s Edge was always planned to be two towers integrated by common areas and terraces that would create a one community feeling,” says Neil.
In order to create the experience of a single community, project partners made the decision to renovate the common areas and interiors of Harbor Tower to match the more progressive aesthetic of River Tower.
“It was a complex solution when you think about having to manage the whole process, not just the design attributes, but the whole process with an existing community with high expectations for their residents,” says Rocky Berg, principal at senior living architectural design firm Three, which designed River Tower.
The end result – a $136 million dollar commitment to progress that feels both, “contemporary yet cozy and welcoming,” according to Cynthia Shonaiya, one of the judges for the SHN Architecture and Design Awards.
The Cutting-Edge of Luxury
After five years of renovation, the 24-story River Tower proudly opened its doors to new residents in 2022.
“We had a lot of input along the way from both residents and staff,” Berg says. “We were very deliberate and thoughtful about this process and we re-checked the big picture as the project evolved.”
River Tower’s final design was inspired by the high sails of tall ships that would come in from the harbor. The tower has a modern facade with glass that stretches out like a ship’s sail atop a base that’s lined with brick.
With both towers replete with a variety of upscale dining venues, multipurpose theaters, sky-lit lounges, and upgraded outdoor deck seating, Harbor’s Edge fully represents what senior living looks like when designed by older adults.
The final touch was the addition of open floor plans and a focus on social mobility and safety throughout the design and construction process, which means every Harbor’s Edge resident can feel comfortable, cared for, and appreciated in one unified community.
For those interested in learning more about living life on The Edge, call 757-616-7950 or visit our website to schedule your tour of Harbor Tower and River Tower today.