Arizona State University to build CCRC on campus

Arizona State University wants to build a different kind of residence hall.

The university is developing a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), at the edge of campus and downtown Tempe, Ariz.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to provide intellectual stimulation for senior members of the ASU family—and in an altogether new way,” said Rick Shangraw, CEO of the ASU Foundation to ASU NOW. “The ASU community will certainly benefit from their presence, as we hope they will.”

ASU is working with the ASU Foundation, who has hired Pacific Retirement Services to co-develop and operate the project. Artistic renderings depict a gleaming a 20-story building with 291 independent, assisted, memory care and skilled nursing units. The design is inspired by the urban Mirabella communities in Portland and Seattle.

The CCRC will provide a continuum of healthcare services, according to Mirabella’s website. ASU is currently in discussion with Mayo Clinic, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and ASU’s nursing, health, innovation, nutrition, arts and design and teaching programs as potential partners. Other amenities include casual dining, health club, game room, estate planning, concierge service, classroom and intergenerational childcare programming.

Residents would get an ASU student card to use the university library and audit classes. The facility is targeting older alumni and retired faculty, staff and friends. Around half of the university’s 60,000 graduates age 65 or older live in Arizona, and that number is expected to double in a decade.

ASU is currently conducting a marketing and feasibility study about the facility, which would ground lease approval from the Arizona Board of Regents. If approved, construction could begin in 2018 and begin accepting residents in 2020. 

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.