The Landing at The Moorings

The Challenge

When Presbyterian Living aimed to combine a new building with an existing building at The Moorings senior living community, they faced several challenges, including upholding brand identity and adapting to the current campus infrastructure. Working with HKS, Presbyterian Living focused on their motto, “timeless charm with a modern twist,” to create a vibrant community for both long-time and new residents.

The primary goal of the project was to activate the front entry of the existing building and reposition it as a vibrant hub for the entire community – enhancing both its visual appeal and experiential impact – to meet today’s refined market expectations. 

The Design Solution

HKS led the interior design, space planning and ceiling design for the Landing at The Moorings, working closely with architectural partner Perkins Eastman. To meet the client’s goals of activating the front entry and enhancing the overall resident experience, the project team strategically repositioned the building’s entry vestibule, offsetting it and bringing it closer to the new expansion. Repositioning the entry improved wayfinding between the existing community space and the addition. It also created a more generous and welcoming zone for social interaction.

The project team introduced an all-day dining venue and marketplace-style coffee shop near the new entrance to bring fresh energy to the arrival experience and provide residents with a more elevated dining experience and additional dining options. The community’s mailboxes – a key site of resident engagement – are now in a more central location to foster spontaneous neighborly connections. The project team expanded the library into the adjacent living room to support traditional programming and new opportunities for informal gathering, enrichment and socialization.

The Design Impact

Together, these design moves reinforce the sense of community, align with market expectations and help ensure current residents and newcomers feel equally valued and connected.