National Dev. and EPOCH's Waterstone at Wellesley honored with national award for excellence: design team includes Elkus Manfredi, WDA and Stantec

Senior Housing News awarded Waterstone at Wellesley, a luxury senior living community in Wellesley, with a national 2013 award for excellence in senior housing design and architecture. "It's so nice to be honored on a national scale by a panel that has searched across the country for the best in senior living design," said Kristine Tilton, executive director of Waterstone at Wellesley. Waterstone, a joint venture of National Development and EPOCH Senior Living, was designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects. The interior design was done by Wellesley Design Associates (WDA) and landscape architecture by Stantec's Boston office. The community includes 134 apartments, opened in May 2012. It is the first year SHN has hosted the Senior Housing News Architecture and Design Awards, a competition to find the most exciting, innovative design solutions in senior housing. The recognition is the second in 2013 for Waterstone, after receiving a gold medal award from The National Association of Home Builders for excellence in senior housing design in 2013. The features that secured Waterstone's award include its innovative fitness program with personal trainers; unique design features featuring private porches for easy access to the outdoors; an easily accessible riverfront walking path with raised gardens; and an adaptable and easily accessible design and structure. Notable amenities include an open demonstration kitchen; a resident bar and lounge area with private wine lockers; a media and theater room; and a riverfront courtyard with a putting green and fire pit. The community also features an indoor pool. The Waterstone at Wellesley campus includes both independent and assisted living rental apartments for seniors 62 and older, as well as retail and medical office space. Elkus Manfredi Architects and Wellesley Design Associates crafted an interior design focused on the American Craftsman aesthetic. The community, which has been compared to a boutique hotel, features handmade glazed tiles, custom millwork, multiple fireplaces, and period-appropriate stonework and furnishings.