MultiFamily Executive Magazine (MFE) chose Merrill Gardens at Kirkland as the winner of the Grand Award for Senior Living at the annual MFE and Developer Awards in Las Vegas recently. At the ceremony, awards were presented to recognize exceptional projects and programs across 16 categories. The Merrill Gardens at Kirkland retirement community was selected as Project of the Year for senior housing communities, chosen from more than 200 entries. Opened earlier this year, the contemporary-style senior community has 115 apartments and is located just steps from Lake Washington in downtown Kirkland. Merrill Gardens at Kirkland was designed by Runberg Architecture Group of Seattle.

Multifamily Executive Magazine is a national business management magazine serving over 25,000 owners, management firms, developers and investors of multifamily housing. The awards are presented to recognize exceptional projects and the winners were chosen by a group of industry judges.

The judges praised the community for its unique location close to downtown Kirkland and the water views from many apartments calling it “a socially-activated, amenity-laden, waterfront alternative to traditional seniors housing.” MFE received entries from senior housing communities all over the country and Merrill Gardens at Kirkland was chosen as the best in the retirement industry. The 117,700 community can accommodate more than 160 senior residents who choose from a mix of studio, one and two bedroom private apartments with kitchens. There are also numerous common areas for residents with a game room, wine bar, bistro café and courtyard. In addition, the development has 6,600 square feet of commercial and retail space.