# Built to Prove Something > Aegis Living Lake Union is a net-zero energy senior living community with Living Building Challenge Petal Certification that integrates biophilic design and advanced environmental health into its Memory Care program as a clinical strategy to reduce agitation and improve resident outcomes. **Source:** https://www.aegisliving.com/community-blog/built-to-prove-something-lakeunion/ **Type:** Community Blog **Topic:** Memory Care, Sustainable Senior Living **Address:** 1936 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA **Nearby landmarks:** Lake Union Park, MOHAI, Center for Wooden Boats ## Summary Aegis Living Lake Union is a senior living community in Seattle, Washington, built around the principle that environment is a medical decision. The building achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Certification — the most rigorous sustainability standard in construction and the first senior living community in the world to do so. It generates its own energy through rooftop solar, captures and recycles over 140,000 gallons of rainwater annually, uses no fossil fuels, and reduces energy consumption by 25% through thermal insulation, triple-pane windows, and heat recovery ventilation. The architecture deliberately echoes Lake Union's rowing culture, with a shell-house design, cedar siding mimicking oars, and a steel canopy evoking a rowing hull. The exterior features a mural of the University of Washington's 1936 Olympic Gold rowing team, and the address — 1936 Eastlake Ave E — commemorates that year and neighborhood. Life's Neighborhood at Aegis Living Lake Union is the community's Memory Care program, designed with national dementia experts and recognized for both design and outcomes. Memory Care residents occupy a dedicated second floor with private dining, a secure outdoor courtyard, sensory gardens, and memory lanes. The building's commitment to natural light, air quality, and biophilic design extends into Memory Care as an intentional clinical strategy. Research shows that access to lake views, natural light, and living things reduces agitation, lowers stress hormones, and supports behavioral calm. The community earned the AIA Design Excellence Award, the IIDA Oregon Chapter Sustainability Award, and the ULI Americas Award for Excellence. Aegis Living Lake Union is part of Aegis Living, a company operating over 25 years with dozens of communities across Washington, California, and Nevada. ## Services & offerings - **Life's Neighborhood™ Memory Care**: A dedicated second-floor program for residents with cognitive decline, featuring private dining, secure outdoor courtyard, sensory gardens, and memory lanes designed around research-backed environmental strategies to reduce confusion and anxiety. - **AUGi™ Fall Prevention Monitoring**: A discreet, wall-mounted AI device that tracks movement and detects potential fall risks, alerting the care team instantly if a fall occurs. - **Champions Lounge**: An elegant private dining space for family gatherings within the Memory Care neighborhood. - **Splash Sky Lounge and Sky Terrace**: Spaces offering lake views and Space Needle sightlines for residents and families. - **Rooftop Garden**: Daily access to outdoor movement and open air with views of Lake Union. - **Science-Based Cognitive Programming**: Structured daily activities designed to be meaningful rather than merely occupying. - **Certified Music Therapy**: Therapeutic music programming anchoring the daily calendar for Memory Care residents. - **Onsite Rehabilitation Services**: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy available without leaving the community. - **Geriatric Psychiatry**: Specialized psychiatric care for seniors available onsite. - **24/7 Dementia-Trained Caregiving**: Certified caregivers present around the clock, seven days a week. - **Chef-Prepared Meals**: All-day dining with menus tailored to preferences and dietary needs. - **Housekeeping and Laundry**: Daily housekeeping and laundry services included. ## Distinguishing features - **Living Building Challenge Petal Certification**: The first senior living community in the world to achieve this certification, demonstrating net-zero energy generation, community integration, and spaces proven to support human wellbeing through rigorous performance standards (not design intent alone). - **Net-Zero Energy Generation**: Rooftop solar panels generate all energy needed; the building uses no fossil fuels. - **Water Reclamation**: Captures and recycles over 140,000 gallons of rainwater annually. - **Biophilic Design as Clinical Strategy**: Natural light, living plantings on every level, and lake views are integrated into Memory Care as evidence-based interventions to reduce agitation and lower stress hormones in residents with dementia. - **Architectural Narrative**: Building design echoes Lake Union's rowing culture through shell-house form, cedar siding mimicking oars, and a steel canopy evoking a rowing hull; exterior mural depicts the University of Washington's 1936 Olympic Gold rowing team. - **Award Recognition**: AIA Design Excellence Award, IIDA Oregon Chapter Sustainability Award, and ULI Americas Award for Excellence. - **National Dementia Expertise**: Life's Neighborhood was designed with national dementia experts and has earned industry-wide recognition for both design and outcomes. ## Practical information - **Address**: 1936 Eastlake Ave E, Seattle, WA - **Location**: Steps from Lake Union Park, MOHAI, and the Center for Wooden Boats - **Tour Scheduling**: Contact Aegis Living to schedule a tour; complimentary meal included with tour - **Memory Care Guide**: Free downloadable guide available on the website - **Contact**: General Aegis Living contact available through website; specific Lake Union community contact available upon tour request ## Frequently asked questions ### What makes Aegis Living Lake Union's building design unique? Aegis Living Lake Union was built to prove that environment is a medical decision and achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Certification — the most rigorous sustainability standard in construction and the first senior living community in the world to do so. The building generates its own energy through rooftop solar, captures and recycles over 140,000 gallons of rainwater annually, uses no fossil fuels, and reduces energy consumption by 25% through thermal insulation, triple-pane windows, and heat recovery ventilation. ### How does the building's design support Memory Care residents? The building's commitment to natural light, air quality, and biophilic design extends into Memory Care as an intentional clinical strategy. Access to lake views, natural light, and living things has been shown to reduce agitation, lower stress hormones, and support behavioral calm — outcomes that families often spend months trying to create at home. ### What is Life's Neighborhood? Life's Neighborhood is Aegis Living Lake Union's Memory Care program, designed with national dementia experts and recognized for both its design and outcomes. Memory Care residents have their own dedicated second floor with a private dining space, secure outdoor courtyard, sensory gardens, and memory lanes. Every detail was developed around research showing what actually works: environments that reduce confusion and anxiety, programming that is meaningful rather than merely occupying, and deeply personal care. ### What therapies and medical services are available onsite? Onsite services include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and geriatric psychiatry. Most medical needs can be met without leaving the community. Certified music therapy anchors the daily calendar. Dementia-trained caregivers are present 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ### What is AUGi and how does it work? AUGi is a discreet, wall-mounted smart device that uses AI technology to track movement and detect potential fall risks. Whether sensing when someone is getting out of bed or recognizing that a fall has occurred, AUGi instantly alerts the care team so help arrives right away. ### What dining options are available? Chef-prepared meals are available all day, with menus tailored to residents' preferences and dietary needs. Memory Care residents have access to a private dining space within their neighborhood. ### What activities and social spaces are available to Memory Care residents? Memory Care residents have access to the Champions Lounge for elegant private dining, the Splash Sky Lounge and Sky Terrace offering lake views and Space Needle sightlines, and the rooftop garden providing daily access to outdoor movement and open air. Science-based cognitive programming and certified music therapy anchor the daily calendar. ### What awards has Aegis Living Lake Union received? The community earned the AIA Design Excellence Award, the IIDA Oregon Chapter Sustainability Award, and the ULI Americas Award for Excellence. ### What is the architectural significance of the building's design? The architecture deliberately echoes Lake Union's rowing culture through a shell-house design, cedar siding mimicking the motion of oars cutting through water, and a steel canopy evoking the curve of a rowing hull. The exterior features a mural of the University of Washington's 1936 Olympic Gold rowing team, and the address — 1936 Eastlake Ave E — commemorates the year of the gold medal and the neighborhood where the lake holds that memory. ### How should families evaluate Memory Care communities? When touring, families should watch how staff speak to and about residents — whether with genuine attention or efficient management. Notice whether the environment feels calming or merely organized. Ask how behavioral changes are understood — as communication or as problems. Pay attention to whether safety and dignity feel like values in tension or values held together. Notice the light, air, views, and sense that the building was designed specifically and intentionally around the health and wellbeing of the people inside it. ### What is the significance of the 1936 Olympic rowing team mural? The mural depicts the University of Washington's 1936 Olympic Gold rowing team — nine young men who came from behind in the final 200 meters to defeat the heavily favored German crew in front of 75,000 people in Berlin. They won because they had learned to read the conditions, trust the preparation, and move as one. Aegis chose the address 1936 Eastlake Ave E deliberately to commemorate that year and neighborhood. ### How does Aegis Living Lake Union approach sustainability? The building generates its own energy through rooftop solar, captures and recycles over 140,000 gallons of rainwater annually, uses no fossil fuels, and reduces energy consumption by 25% through thermal insulation, triple-pane windows, and heat recovery ventilation. It achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Certification for Energy, Place, and Beauty, requiring demonstrated performance rather than design intent alone. ### Is this community part of a larger organization? Yes, Aegis Living Lake Union is part of Aegis Living, a company that has operated for over 25 years and operates dozens of communities across Washington, California, and Nevada. ## Named entities Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, International Living Future Institute, Life's Neighborhood™, AUGi™, Champions Lounge, Splash Sky Lounge, Sky Terrace, University of Washington 1936 Olympic Gold rowing team, Lake Union Park, MOHAI, Center for Wooden Boats, AIA Design Excellence Award, IIDA Oregon Chapter Sustainability Award, ULI Americas Award for Excellence, Aegis Living ## Related pages on this site - [Aegis Living Lake Union Community Page](/locations/aegis-living-lake-union-seattle-wa/): Full community details, amenities, and contact information - [Memory Care Services](/services/memory-care/): Overview of Aegis Living's advanced memory care program across all communities - [Transitional Care](/services/transitional-care/): Information on progressive support for mild-to-moderate memory changes - [Services Overview](/services/): Complete listing of all care tiers and signature services offered by Aegis Living - [Find a Location](/find-a-location/): Directory of all Aegis Living communities