More than 80 senior living organizations nationwide recently competed for top honors in the 2017 Senior Housing News Architecture and Design Awards, a program that recognizes excellence in design by celebrating projects that improve the lives of seniors.

Timber Ridge Life Plan Community, in Issaquah, was recently awarded Runner Up in the Continuing Care Retirement Community category.

Timber Ridge is a two-phase project; phase one completed in 2008, followed by phase two in 2016. The project is comprised of 329 residential apartments, 45 skilled nursing apartments and 26 assisted living and memory care apartments within its 820,960 gross square feet, and currently sits at nearly 90 percent occupancy.

Timber Ridge incorporated green construction strategies built around LEED certification standards and became the first senior living community in the nation to be awarded Silver LEED by the U.S. Green Building Council for Phase I.

The 9-acre site plan responds to environmental clues of the east-facing site; the building slightly twists to the east to open all areas to sun and views at various times of day and year. Resident courtyards open to the views and daylight, and the wings spread to capture views and avoid looking into each other. While the distant Cascade Mountains provide an exclamation point for the community, several outdoor courtyards take advantage of sun and shade while connecting to the expansive Talus trail system enticing residents to outdoor activities and celebrations.

Developed by Life Care Services, Des Moines, Iowa (lcsdevelopmentLCS.com), the team includes The Weitz Company (Phase II) and GLY Construction (Phase I); StudioSIX5, interiors; Berger Partnership, landscape; Coughlin Porter Lundeen, structural and civil engineering; and design build contractors; McKinstry, Stirrett-Johnsen and Valley Electric Co.