New Team Members Join SmithGroup to Shape the Future of Senior Living

Growing team to drive industry forward through innovative Longevity Living concept

SmithGroup, one of the nation’s leading integrated design firms, has expanded its team in its continued mission to drive the industry forward through next-generation senior living solutions and design philosophies.  

The senior housing market sits at a unique inflection point, vying to accommodate the range of needs across today’s diverse senior population. The rising need for specialized care, coupled with the desire for increased independence, enhanced amenities and multi-generational socialization. These factors will significantly influence how these spaces are designed and operated.  

To embrace these market dynamics and cater to the needs of aging populations, SmithGroup is introducing a new standard in senior housing, called “Longevity Living.” This design concept celebrates living at every stage and aims to erase age-old boundaries that separate and isolate. The firm’s investment in building a robust team further advances this mission: to create new and inspiring models of care that are more responsive to residents’ needs, flexible to market demands, focused on holistic wellness, and engaged with the broader community.  

Led by SmithGroup’s Senior Living Market Leader Joyce Polhamus and Senior Living Studio Leader Alexis Burck, the specialized Senior Living team brings unmatched knowledge in every aspect of the continuum of care, along with a proven track record of maximizing marketability and return on investment. As industry leaders in designing for the aging, SmithGroup has served as a trusted advisor to senior living owners, operators and developers for more than four decades. 

“Senior living design is especially rich and rewarding work. These projects touch the lives of families in the most intimate way, and creating inclusive, health-focused living environments that directly contribute to a loved one’s comfort, happiness and quality of life is a privilege. Yet there’s still so much more we can do,” said Burck. “We have the opportunity to make them better, to re-imagine what they could be, not just for us but for those who follow. Longevity Living is about creating environments that support a vibrant, active lifestyle, ensuring residents can thrive at every stage of their lives.” 

Expanding upon the firm’s Health market expertise with an increased presence in the Senior Living market nationwide, John Ishihara, Jigna Hammers and Bonita Cook join SmithGroup as client leaders representing three core regions for the firm.  

Ishihara joins SmithGroup as a client leader and senior project manager in San Francisco, drawing upon nearly 30 years of experience to bring a wealth of experience in urban, high-rise, multifamily, mixed-use and senior living design to the SmithGroup Senior Living team as it evolves to accommodate new generations of seniors across the nation.  

Hammers is a client leader and project manager based in Denver, Colorado, specializing in senior living design, dedicated to transforming the experience of aging in society. She excels in creating inclusive, health-focused environments that cater to the diverse needs of aging populations.  

Cook joins SmithGroup as a client leader and architect based in SmithGroup’s Boston office, and brings a two-fold, future-focused mindset to the Senior Living team, emphasizing the importance of people and the environment in this industry.  

“Maintaining connections with family, friends, and our communities becomes increasingly important as we age. SmithGroup’s designs seamlessly blend with multigenerational communities and possess an ageless appeal. Our goal is to shape spaces that support well-being, dignity, independence and a high-quality life for seniors,” said Ishihara.  

As the Senior Living team at SmithGroup continues to grow, it will maintain the core typologies of life care, housing, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, while incorporating its Longevity Living design concepts into all projects. These concepts will improve the quality of the built environment and promote wellness, independence and dignity while introducing innovative and sustainable programs and services that enrich daily living.  

Across its network of offices nationwide, SmithGroup’s Senior Living team unites experts in gerontology, housing, urban design, mixed use and healthcare to offer clients a fully integrated approach to design and development. For more details on SmithGroup’s Senior Living projects, visit: Senior Living | SmithGroup.