The site features a 100-foot slope at the back of the building and a historic stone flume along the site frontage. Collaborative efforts with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Schuylkill River watershed, and the Clean Streams Law ensured thoughtful remediation of the site, as the building is constructed within 10 feet of Gulley Run. The site’s unique constraints were leveraged as a design advantage creating a lower parking level beneath a concrete partition and three distinct access points: a vehicular bridge, a pedestrian bridge, and an occupied bridge all spanning the flume for multifunctional use.

With 62 assisted living units and 22 memory care units – two of which have companion suites – Bala Cynwyd is designed to cater to the diverse care needs of each resident. The layout includes both spacious and cozy communal areas, balancing group activities and individual interests. Memory Care residents enjoy a dedicated floor with a terrace, dining, and lounge spaces, while all residents have access to a range of facilities for social engagement, including a fitness center, theater, living rooms, art room, game room, salon, library, and dining options. This variety in design helps tailor daily activities to residents’ preferences, preventing isolation. The range of assisted living apartment floorplans—studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units—fosters a sense of independence.

With a keen focus on sustainability, the design of Bala Cynwyd has a robust building envelope, all-electric VRF systems, and high-efficiency tilt-and-turn windows, earning the community the National Green Building Standard Silver Status certification. The health benefits of biophilic design are important for both resident populations, with natural light helping to regulate circadian rhythms, improve mood, and cognitive functioning. Drawing on the beauty of the Main Line, Bala Cynwyd’s interior program emphasizes indoor and outdoor connections, featuring a light-filled double-height passageway through the resident bistro to the central dining area, a large outdoor patio, and a sixth-floor roof deck with an adjacent sunroom. To maximize natural light and generate visual interest, oversized windows and amenities are south-facing, articulating the street, newly created pedestrian walkways, a public pocket park, and a bicycle path.