Norwell, MA Nauset Construction and Anthemion Senior Lifestyles LLC celebrated the groundbreaking of The Cordwainer, a 50,000 s/f assisted living memory care residence that will offer 54 residential units in a home-like setting designed to promote mindful and physical health and wellness. Located off Rtes 3 and 228 at 555 Cordwainer Dr., The Cordwainer is located within minutes of many town amenities and local attractions.

“The town of Norwell is an ideal location for our expansion into the South Shore area,” said Tamilyn Liesenfeld, president and CEO at Anthemion. “There is a strong demand for lifestyle communities for adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia who need personal supportive services that provide safe, independent living. Our goal is to create a more caring and inclusive world for people with cognitive challenges.”

Designed by The Architectural Team (TAT), the 50,000 s/f memory care residence blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural landscape, creating a welcoming environment for residents and visitors alike. An inviting lobby space with a living green wall leads you into a warm at home atmosphere with plenty of natural light that channels throughout the building. The residence features two sensory gardens that reunites residents and staff with year-round nature to inspire the basic senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste. The indoor sensory garden features a New England style landscape with a stately tree at its center along with colorful seasonal flowers and plants, weathered boulders and a raised planting bed for residents to grow herbs and vegetables all year long. The outdoor sensory garden is similarly invigorating and features a pergola, walking paths, bird houses, a water-feature, sitting areas and planting beds. The two-story building will be comprised of slab on deck construction with steel and light gauge metal framing. The Cordwainer will have an abundance of natural light provided by large windows and three lightwells to help promote year-round sensory stimulation for residents. 

Residential units include seven companion suites with private bedrooms and shared common space, and 47 single units. 

Interior design includes circulating corridors with no dead ends, and floor and wall finishes featuring strong color contrasts to alleviate confusion and frustration that commonly occurs in people challenged with Alzheimer’s and dementia. A full-service commercial kitchen, two-elevators, first-floor administrative office space as well as dining and living rooms on each floor will also be constructed. 

This supportive care residence will feature a host of memory-triggering amenities including a salon, barber shop, fitness room, resource center, activities room, wood workshop, multipurpose room, rejuvenating room, family suite, roof terrace, and country kitchens located on each floor. 

Anthemion’s team of care professionals strive to provide care that is designed around memorable moments and quality of life. Services include personalized assistance and care, housekeeping and laundry services, professionally designed dining services, music therapy, a community bus and respite services for those wanting to stay short-term. Anthemion prides itself on its unique programming, the Learned Environment, which provides residents opportunity to participate in real-life curriculum-based elective courses geared towards the varying degrees of cognitive levels. 

The Cordwainer is the latest senior living construction project undertaken by Nauset in the New England area. Other recently completed projects include Port Healthcare Center, a 123-bed skilled nursing facility in Newburyport for Whittier Health Network; Lighthouse Nursing Care Center, 123-bed skilled nursing facility in Revere operated by Genesis HealthCare; and Hathorne Hill, a 120-bed skilled nursing facility in Danvers operated by Genesis HealthCare. Nauset has built an extensive portfolio of senior living projects, from ground up construction and extensive additions to renovations and conversions within occupied communities.

“Nauset Construction continues to partner with the industry’s most well-respected providers such as Anthemion Senior Lifestyles, LLC, which is reflective of our culture and growing reputation as a construction leader in the senior care industry,” said Nauset president Anthony Papantonis.