Project
Experience

As a premier Minneapolis retirement community and the only Life Plan Community in Plymouth, Trillium Woods wanted to deepen its commitment to serving area seniors by investing in a 160,321-sq.ft, four-story expansion. Adding 52 independent living homes and a bistro reinforces the community’s mission to provide an active senior lifestyle, while new assisted living residences and private memory care studios support the organization’s commitment to helping residents age in place.

“The project fulfilled a critical need for dedicated assisted living and memory support while meeting market demands for more independent living options and desirable dining venues,” said Trillium Woods Executive Director Joe Amend-Marshall.

Henricksen collaborated with Pope Design Group to expand the community, creating a design solution that bridged the addition with the 10-year-old existing building. “The design intent was to seamlessly extend Trillium Woods’ original prairie-influenced aesthetic while refreshing the environment with lighter, more modern finishes tailored to the needs of today’s senior living residents,” said Pope Design Group Interiors Team Manager and Senior Interior Designer, Kate Coolong.

As a go-to project partner for Pope and Trillium Woods, Henricksen delivered a comprehensive FF&E package, including furniture, art, accessories, signage, and window treatments, to bring the design vision to life.

A priority throughout the design was creating open, inviting spaces filled with natural light. New resident lounges provide highly popular areas that draw residents from the original building, serving as a point of connectivity that fosters camaraderie among all residents. Existing wood tones and trim were carefully carried forward to connect the existing building with the expansion, while a palette of cool greens and blues balances the warmth of the rich wood. Pops of color in artwork and accessories layer in energy and personality.

For the new assisted living and memory care neighborhoods, the team focused on senior-specific needs without sacrificing style. The coordinated furnishings, textures, and window treatments feel tailored yet comfortable and residential. Furniture heights and ergonomics support comfort and mobility, while art and accessories infuse warmth and hospitality.

According to Coolong, “I always value Henricksen’s senior living expertise throughout the design process. Their knowledge of senior living means I can trust they’re specifying pieces that are functional, safe, and appropriate for residents, with cleanability and maintenance top of mind. They inherently understand what works for these communities and bring solutions that make my role easier and give our clients confidence.”
In addition to enhanced unit offerings and healthcare services, the project elevates resident life with a fourth dining venue. The new bistro, located within the existing building, emerged as a highlight of the project. The well-considered furniture, finishes, and design details offer residents an enticing casual setting — a desirable alternative to the main dining room. The range of seating — from communal tables and two-tops to counter stools and counter-height tables at the pizza bar — accommodates different preferences and social dynamics. Custom art and photography explore the water theme, adding to the memorable dining experience.

“Our new venue, the bistro, is my favorite room in the building,” described Amend-Marshall. “It’s designed with a Lakeshore feel, and from the carpet to the wallcovering, woodwork, artwork, tables, and chairs, it’s just fantastic. I love a multifunctional space, so even though the bistro is only open for dinner, we use it during the day for meetings and smaller marketing events, which gives us more flexibility, improves staff efficiency, and still provides a great experience.”

Coolong emphasized Henricksen’s contributions to the success of the bistro. “In tight, multi-functional areas like the bistro, Henricksen helped us balance seat count, clearances, and aesthetics so the room felt more like a hospitality venue than a traditional senior living dining room.”

With many stakeholders involved throughout the project, the team’s primary challenge was managing input and decisions. Consistent, proactive communication and follow-up kept the project on track. Decades of combined senior-living experience enabled the Henricksen team to advise confidently on best practices, product performance, and resident-focused solutions.

“From my perspective, the project was all very smooth,” said Amend-Marshall. “Henricksen’s communication and presentations were always good, and they really listened. My team is very opinionated, as am I, and they worked very well with us to make the right selections.”

“Our work with Henricksen is always a collaboration,” added Coolong. “We have a shared understanding of the goals, and we rarely have to labor over details because they’re already thinking about function, aesthetics, and resident needs.”

In the end, Pope and Henricksen delivered a design solution that feels both new and familiar. The inviting environment strengthens the continuum of care, supports staff operations, enhances daily life for residents, and reinforces Trillium Woods’ position as a highly sought-after community.