New development embraces nature, features strong connection to outdoors

Cuningham Group Architecture, Inc., in partnership with owners Presbyterian Homes and Wesley Homes, recently broke ground on a 400,000-square-foot senior living campus in the Tehaleh Development in Bonney Lake, Washington.

The new campus will include 136 senior apartments, 42 catered living units, 18 memory care units, 32 brownstone apartments, and a 24,000-square-foot town center.

Image credit: © Cuningham Group

Image credit: © Cuningham Group

“When we first visited the site, we could feel this would be a very special place,” says Cuningham Group Associate Principal Amy Cheever, AIA, LEED AP®. “We were immediately inspired by the beautiful landscape and the fresh air that surrounds us. The vision was clear — to capture this connection to nature as much as we could in this new community.”

Located on 12 acres of land and surrounded by a trail system within allées of trees, Tehaleh’s modern Pacific Northwest style features warm, natural materials, daylight, and strong connection to the outdoors.

The building is carefully sited so that daylight illuminates the campus’ interior spaces. Natural ventilation switches are placed on the windows within the “biophilia breezeway” — a connection between a resident wing and the shared amenity spaces. This breezeway allows for fresh air, aroma from fragrant flowers, and views of a creek on site running through the building to the nearby ponds. Other amenities include: a hearth room, bistro, dining space, chapel and assembly area, wellness center, fitness room, theatre, maker space, library, club room, and outdoor amenities such as patio dining, pond and pickle ball courts.

Image credit: © Cuningham Group

Image credit: © Cuningham Group

In addition, another 32-unit building, Brownstones, will house a combination of walk-up apartments and balcony views adjacent to a neighborhood trail within an allée of trees.