LRS Architects designed this 51,780-sq.-ft. upscale facility for owner Avamere Health Services to include a unique mix of Memory Care and Skilled Rehabilitation functions, making it the only facility in Oregon (and one of the few in the country) devoted solely to these two types of senior care. The Pearl at Kruse Way is an attractive, multistory, wood-frame facility utilizing Northwest design elements and materials with a lodge look and feel to the exterior and interiors. The inviting lobby/great room has a large stone fireplace, a nondenominational chapel, and a beauty parlor. A staff training room, kitchen, and storage rooms are located on the lower level.

The 49-bed Memory Care wing is designed around three easily identifiable “households,” each with only 16 residents, providing the necessary familiarity and 24-hour care that Memory Care residents need. Each spacious therapy kitchen has adjoining communal eating and activity spaces. Natural daylight is introduced through skylights and large windows, in keeping with studies that have shown this has a calming effect on the residents. Beautifully landscaped enclosed courtyards offer a safe environment for gardening, walking, and other outdoor activities. Visiting families also have a dedicated room for their use.


The 29-unit Skilled Rehabilitation wing is pure state-of-art to lessen the amount of time patients recovering from joint replacement, stroke, major illness, or trauma need to spend away from home. The large physical therapy/rehabilitation room provides a wide range of treatments to improve strength and mobility. Suite-style rooms feature connected bathrooms for maximum interaction and care.

Project category: New construction (completed December 2005)

Chief administrator: Scott Mickeleit, Vice-President of Avamere Health Care, (971) 224-2501

Firm: LRS Architects, Inc., (503) 221-1121

Design team: Dan Edwards, Project Architect; Dustin Posner, Project Manager (LRS Architects, Inc.); T.R. Hill, Interior Designer (Hill Devine Design); Kathleen Baughman, Landscape Architect (Gretchen Vadnais Landscape Architects); Gary Lewis, Structural Engineer (Lewis & Van Vleet, Inc.); Dave Shriver, Project Manager (LCG Pence Construction Co.)

Photography: Ed Hershberger; Randy Shelton

Total building area (sq. ft.): 51,780

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $118

Total construction cost (excluding land): $6,109,606