Plymouth Place Wins National Gold Award For Senior Living Design And Innovation

LA GRANGE PARK, IL – Plymouth Place is proud to announce that its recent development, The Arboretum Villas, has received a Gold Award for Best Development & Design: Senior Living at the Multi-Housing News 2025 Excellence Awards, presented on December 4 in New York City.

This year’s event honored 101 winners across 33 categories, recognizing the most innovative and impactful real estate developments across the country.

The prestigious Gold Award places Plymouth Place among the nation’s leaders in senior living design, with AG Architecture serving as the project’s design partner. Finalists in this category include:

GOLD: Plymouth Place – La Grange Park, IL – AG Architecture
SILVER: Citrus Villa – Chula Vista, CA – Studio E Architects
BRONZE: Mount Hermon Apartments – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – HTG Management

A Continuing Pattern of National Recognition
This latest award builds on a year of significant accolades for Plymouth Place and The Arboretum Villas, including:

• EFA Design Showcase Finalist
• National Association of Home Builders – Silver Award Winner for 55+ Apartment or Independent Living Community
• Senior Housing News Architecture & Design Awards – 1st Place in Renovation/Repositioning
• Illinois Real Estate Journal Commercial Real Estate Awards 2025 – Senior Housing Category

Together, these awards reinforce Plymouth Place’s commitment to creating vibrant, wellness-centered environments that elevate the senior living experience.

A Roadmap for the Future
“Jurors look for innovation, user experience, aesthetics, and real impact,” said Laura Weyrauch, former Plymouth Place Board Member with a background in architecture, design, and construction. “It’s about what great design can achieve for residents and communities.”
“Plymouth Place stands out not just for our beautiful design but for the strong commitment and collaboration of our team, partners and generous donors that shaped this project from day one,” said Jay Biere, CEO of Plymouth Place. “This national recognition underscores our mission to create spaces that truly support well-being, independence, and connection.”

At the EFA Design Showcase, jurors praised the project’s thoughtful master plan, phased implementation, rooftop garden, and the well-considered scale and density of the Arboretum Villas – along with the spacious, beautifully designed residences.

“It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Plymouth Place who are so committed to the process,” said Eric Harrmann, Chief Design Officer of AG Architecture. “The award recognition is an exclamation point on a project that has been exceptionally well received by the people it serves.”
About the Arboretum Villas: A New Standard for Senior Living

Completed in April 2024, The Arboretum Villas project updated and transformed the Plymouth Place campus with unique services and amenities that appeal to adults 62+, including new wellness and dining experiences, a pool and 10-person hot tub, enhanced green spaces with walking paths, an expanded pond complete with a new bridge and innovative filtration system to support aquatic life, and beautiful housing — all designed to help residents flourish and thrive

Key Facts

• La Grange Park, IL | Not-for-profit
• $69.2 million project | 166,000 sq. ft.
• 58 independent living villas
• Designed by Eric Harrmann, AG Architecture
• Project Managers: Ann D’Acquisto & Megan Scott

Project Highlights

• Center for Healthy Living featuring an indoor pool and spa, creative learning center, and vaulted-ceiling dining venue
• Landscape design preserving historic trees qualifying the campus as a certified arboretum • Architecture inspired by Chicago brownstones, with customizable finishes, indoor parking, and private patios or balconies
• Rooftop garden connected to each villa building, with inviting social spaces such as a clubroom and golf simulator lounge
• Pedestrian-friendly site plan with bocce courts, pickleball, greenhouse, and integrated walking paths
• Campus-wide renovations including art studios, wellness areas, cocktail bar, restaurant, and full-service salon About Plymouth Place

Plymouth Place is a non-profit retirement community in La Grange Park, IL, offering independent living and a full continuum of compassionate senior care