Located in Walnut Creek, Calif., the $130-million Viamonte senior complex meets several ambitious—and sometimes conflicting—goals at once: a small community fitting seamlessly into a larger mixed-use development; condos designed for independent living that also allow for assisted care; and an enclosed courtyard built around an existing 500-year-old oak tree.
Construction on the 37,000-sq-ft building was on track for early completion in mid-March 2020 when COVID-19 shelter-in-place (SIP) orders brought work to a screeching halt. Yet within 48 hours, the project team was ready to safely resume work, deploying protective equipment and new safety protocols that, under normal circumstances, might have required several weeks to plan and implement.