NEWCASTLE, Wash., July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Aegis Living, a
leader in assisted living and memory care, broke ground in grand
fashion Thursday on Aegis Gardens, the Pacific Northwest's first
senior living community for Chinese-Americans and the future
epicenter of Chinese culture on Seattle's Eastside.
The groundbreaking event drew several hundred attendees,
including former Washington state
governor and U.S. ambassador to China, Gary
Locke, King County Executive Dow Constantine and
Newcastle Mayor Steve Buri. Several Chinese dignitaries were
also present, including Andy Chin,
director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
Seattle, and Benjamin Lee, president emeritus of the
Hong Kong and Greater China
Business Association of Washington.
"Our vision extends well beyond building a premier retirement
community," said Aegis Living CEO and founder Dwayne Clark. "We believe Aegis Gardens will
serve as a Northwest hub for honoring, preserving and celebrating
Chinese culture."
Nestled on a 7.47-acre waterfront site with access to Lake
Boren, the resort-style, 110-home community is slated to open in
2017. When completed, Aegis Gardens' activity center will play host
to civic activities, cultural exhibitions and more. The center will
also provide daycare services to promote multigenerational
engagement. According to Nielson, 92,000 Chinese-Americans live
within a 25-mile radius of the Newcastle location.
Aegis Gardens' community programming will include celebrations
of Chinese holidays, traditional cuisine representing major regions
of China, mahjong, calligraphy,
cribbage, Tai Chi classes, a central
Zen garden and a tearoom.
Twenty-four hour care will be provided by staff fluent in
Cantonese, Mandarin and English. Additionally, Aegis Living's
memory care staff is professionally trained to handle the
challenges of those living with Alzheimer's and other types of
dementia.
The development site in Newcastle, situated a block from the
Bellevue city line, carries deep
cultural relevance. In the late 1800s, immigrants from China mined coal there, contributing to
Seattle's rise to prominence.
Video, event photos and project renderings are available.
About Aegis Living:
Redmond-based Aegis Living is a
national leader in the senior living industry, embracing innovation
and creativity to provide the highest level of care and service to
its residents. A private, family-owned company founded in
1997 by Chairman and CEO Dwayne
Clark, Aegis Living is consistently ranked among the top
companies in the nation for senior housing, with a strong record of
growth, innovation and employer excellence. More than 2,200 Aegis
Living staff members care for more than 2,000 residents across
Washington, California and Nevada.
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SOURCE Aegis Living