Affordable, Supportive Senior Housing
As Americans live longer, the growing senior population raises pressing questions about how to provide safe, affordable housing and supportive care for the most vulnerable members of the Baby Boomer generation. Willett Ranch, located in Ventura, California, offers one meaningful answer.
This affordable senior housing development provides economically challenged seniors with high-quality residences in an environment designed to foster safety, comfort, and dignity.
HED served as Architect of Record and Executive Architect, advancing an initial site plan into a fully realized project that met accessibility requirements and funding criteria while navigating entitlement, permitting, and construction. The project comprises 50 units distributed across two Mediterranean-style buildings, carefully designed to comply with Ventura’s rigorous review standards. Red tile roofs, plaster finishes, exposed rafter tails, and detailed window treatments root the project in the city’s architectural character while creating a welcoming sense of home for residents.
One of the project’s most significant challenges (and opportunities) was the building’s mechanical systems. Early ventilation, shading, and wind studies revealed that traditional air conditioning could be avoided by rethinking the building’s orientation and circulation. HED reconfigured the corridors to the exterior and incorporated operable windows throughout the residences. This strategy harnesses Ventura’s mild Mediterranean climate, creating natural cross-ventilation that reduces energy demand, moderates indoor temperatures, and enhances overall air quality.
Willett Ranch also integrates sustainability into every aspect of its design. In line with funding requirements, the development is GreenPoint Rated and solar-ready, further reducing its environmental impact while lowering long-term operating costs.
As part of a larger market-rate community, Willett Ranch blends seamlessly into its context while serving a distinct and vital need. More than just housing, it provides a safe, supportive environment where seniors can feel connected and cared for. For a population often at risk of isolation and insecurity, Willett Ranch stands as a thoughtful response to demographic change, offering both shelter and community to those who need it most.