The recent groundbreaking at Greenwood Village South marks an exciting milestone for this premier Life Plan community in Greenwood, Indiana. While the community proudly celebrates 60 years of supporting the area’s senior population, it was time to reposition the campus to reinforce an expanded mission and best serve the market. Under the leadership and management of LCS, a strategic master planning initiative reimagined the future of Greenwood Village South. The highly regarded developer enlisted AG to offer insights on elevating the senior living experience.
A Future-Focused Vision
The legacy of Greenwood Village South is one of quality, culture, and a strong and deeply rooted sense of community. Maintaining that reputation and best serving its residents relies on a willingness to assess and evolve. Through site analysis, planning exercises, focus groups, and expert guidance, the collaborative master planning process revealed opportunities to refresh the community’s look and feel and introduce new independent living options, amenity offerings, and healthcare service enhancements. To live up to the community’s mantra—the life you love in the neighborhood you call home—the AG Team recommended a multipronged strategy guided by principles of walkable urban environments to create the architectural style, building scales, and meandering streets, sidewalks, and connectivity of desirable neighborhoods.
“Like many organizations, we had partnered with others in the past to develop master plans that were thoughtful but ultimately underwhelming. There was nothing inherently wrong with them, but they lacked the inspiration needed to truly propel us forward. When AG came in, they approached our campus with a completely fresh perspective; one that was both visionary and grounded in reality. They reimagined what Greenwood Village South could become and translated that aspiration into design. Their work not only reignited our drive but also solidified a partnership built on shared purpose and creativity. This vision now ensures that Greenwood Village South continues to lead the market today while positioning us for generations to come.”— Jordan Morrow, Executive Director | Greenwood Village South
A Sense of Arrival
Located along a main highway and commercial corridor, a key component of the master plan was creating a more prominent entry point within the established neighborhood. The planning for the refreshed entry sequence reflects the prestige of a gated community with lush landscaping, including water features flanking the entryway. As a result, the reimagined design creates a sense of arrival that welcomes residents and visitors to a special place, enhancing both the accessibility and curb appeal for the community.
A New Front Door
In addition to the main campus entry, the master plan addresses the approach to the central commons. The design challenge was to maintain existing structures while updating the look and feel of the more institutional school-style architecture (the original campus served retired teachers). In response, the AG team strategically positioned a new commons addition in front of the existing building. This addition provides a new front door to the campus.
Architectural Sensitivity
The architectural aesthetic takes visual cues from the original structure but reinterprets materials, layers, and details to introduce a more residential appeal. Along with the familiar red brick, datum lines reinforce the existing strong horizontal details. Then, to infuse a new sense of style, prominent gable forms and vertical fenestration provide a more pronounced façade with greater transparency. As a result, abundant natural light penetrates the interior while offering enticing views that support connectivity. Outdoor seating areas also liven up the entry, showcasing activity as visitors approach the building.
“The architectural articulation mindfully transitions the long horizontal lines of the original structures into strong vertical details,” says AG Senior Design Architect John Cronin. “We responded to the provider and residents’ feedback by opening spaces, prioritizing natural light, and leveraging sightlines.
The positioning of the addition supports the creation of an inviting courtyard, an area that bridges the old and new. The well-considered outdoor area provides a resting point and an intuitive wayfinding cue. Furthermore, it thoughtfully connects the new addition with the existing structure, creating a space for engaging interactions, observation, and entertainment.
“During the focus groups, the ability to plug in a guitar was referenced, so the desire for live music informed the courtyard design,” describes Cronin. “In the end, design details that directly respond to resident comments show how little things create a big impact and breathe life into the architecture. As construction begins, the residents are already excited about music opportunities in the courtyard.”
Elevated Amenities
The strategic commons area addition allows the community to reinvigorate the resident experience with highly marketable amenities. From vibrant dining venues to wellness activities, the amenities respond to the needs, wants, and desires of existing and future residents. By centralizing the amenity offering on the main level, the design fosters a sense of place. This new hub of activity provides an enticing destination—a place to see and be seen.
During Phase I of construction, a multitude of options will come to life to invigorate the resident experience, including:
- Private and alfresco dining
- Bistro
- State-of-the-art fitness and wellness center
- Natatorium
- Full-service spa and salon
- Creative arts studio
- Performing arts center
- Card & game room
- Library
- Classroom
Plentiful green space throughout the community adds to the elevated amenity offering. In addition to beautifully landscaped courtyards, the 64-acre campus features connected walking trails and a new dog park. Phase I also includes the construction of a clubhouse conveniently located near the cottages, another destination to enrich the resident experience.
Vibrant Independent Living Options
In response to market demands, independent living options beyond corridor-style apartments and cottages continue to drive decision-making. In this case, the master plan introduces The Flats to enhance the marketability of the campus and reinforce the neighborhood appeal. This solution includes a combination of two and three-story independent living buildings organized along walkable streets. Furthermore, the scale and placement of these buildings continue to transform and elevate the campus experience.
While the initial phase of construction includes two 12-unit buildings and one 18-unit building with covered parking, future phases will add eight-unit structures with individual garages and additional 12-unit buildings. These housing options prioritize a neighborhood feel with green spaces and first-floor entries, minimal travel distances, larger unit configurations, and ample daylighting.
“We were purposeful with the design of The Flats, emphasizing familiar residential details like gables and hip forms, large windows and balconies,” describes AG Design Architect Benjamin Chung. “A combination of masonry and fiber cement siding with a distinct color palette gives each building personality and residential appeal. The placement along the pathways and activated green spaces reinforces a sense of community.”
In total, the Phase I buildings will add 42 unique units (ranging from approximately 800 to 2,000 sq. ft.) to Greenwood Village South’s independent living offering. The enticing, market-driven features of The Flats include:
- One-bedroom, two-bedroom, and two-bedroom plus den floor plan options
- Patio or balcony
- 9 ft. ceilings
- Open-concept kitchen with breakfast counter or island
- State-of-the-art kitchen with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops
- Modern decorative lighting and elegant LED under-cabinet lighting
- Generous walk-in closets
- Designer-selected finish options
- In-suite laundry with washer and dryer
- Fireplace
Bringing the Vision to Life
AG is proud to support LCS and Greenwood Village South and work with project partners Ziegler (Investment Advisor), Meyer Najem (General Contractor), Kimley Horn (Civil Engineer), and RDG Design (Interior Design Consultant) on this exciting campus transformation. The team recently celebrated the groundbreaking for the first phases of the project—the commons renovation and addition, and the introduction of The Flats. These components of the master plan are anticipated to be completed in Summer 2027. From renovations to new construction, future phases will continue to expand the housing options at all levels of care while integrating more amenities and experiences to enhance daily life for both residents and staff.
“It has been rewarding to be a part of the process exploring unique solutions to reimagine the Greenwood Village South campus,” says AG Project Manager Brooke Borelli. “Now it’s exciting to be in the construction phase, bringing this vision to life.”
“The groundbreaking represented far more than the start of construction. It was the visible culmination of years of planning, persistence, and partnership. For our team, it marked the moment that vision became reality. AG’s ability to listen, challenge, and refine every idea helped transform this project from concept to catalyst. Seeing that first shovelful of earth lifted was both humbling and energizing, because it symbolized what can happen when the right people come together around a shared goal. This milestone is the beginning of a new chapter for Greenwood Village South, and one that will elevate the resident experience and strengthen the community for decades to come.”— Jordan Morrow, Executive Director | Greenwood Village South
Did you know?
AG Architecture’s relationship with LCS dates back to the 1970s, as AG collaborated with the organization on senior living work that expanded beyond the Milwaukee area to Chicago and Minneapolis and to communities in Pennsylvania and Florida. With each project since, the AG Team is proud to support the LCS commitment to making a difference in the lives of seniors.
AG’s project work with LCS includes WhiteStone in Greensboro, North Carolina; Kingswood Senior Living in Kansas City, Missouri; and Eastcastle Place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.