In February 2021, Friendship Village of Bloomington will officially open the first phase of its new multimillion-dollar health center to area seniors. The project adds 16 assisted living apartment homes and five memory care suites to the senior living community, bringing the total communitywide capacity to 42 assisted living apartments and 32 memory care suites. The three-story building is equipped with a secure memory care courtyard, game and activity room, and spa bath.
“We have an established 40-plus-year history of providing families in the Minneapolis”Saint Paul area with best-in-class health services and we’re excited for this latest chapter,” said David Miller, executive director at Friendship Village of Bloomington. “The health center will be staffed by our tenured team members, so older adults can expect to receive the same quality care we’ve always been known for.”
Jennifer Bever, administrator at Friendship Village of Bloomington, pointed to the secure memory care courtyard as being a standout. The amenity includes a variety of gardens, an event space for lectures and performances, and a fountain.
“The beautiful outdoor space will allow memory care residents to go outside for leisure on their own,” she said. “While they may need extra support in other aspects of living, it’s invaluable for their well-being to have a level of independence. We can’t wait to have them enjoy the opportunity to connect with nature.”
This phase is part of a larger ongoing $114.5 million communitywide expansion and redevelopment initiative. The overall project also includes a new independent living building with 93 apartments and a new skilled nursing building with 66 suites.
“The entire project is a demonstration of our continued dedication to the local community and the people who live here,” said Miller. “Since we opened in 1979, we’ve continually enhanced our services and redeveloped our campus to meet the evolving needs and wants of seniors. We’re very excited to continue to serve this purpose for years to come.”
Minneapolis-based Kraus-Anderson served as general contractor, while SAS Architects, based in Northbrook, Illinois, executed the health center’s architectural design. Friendship Village holds a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
