For Gatherings of Lake Nona, Mansion Concept Architecture Spells Success
Gatherings of Lake Nona is the latest 55+ condo community developed and built by Beazer Homes. The large Planned Unit Development (PUD) is located in Orlando, due south of the international airport. Designed by The Martin Architectural Group, the fourth of eight planned Gatherings condominium buildings is under construction and actively selling.
The design, which the architect calls their “mansion concept,” was first designed for a regional builder in the Mid-Atlantic region more than 20 years ago. Since then, the design concept has been used by the architect for other national and regional builders. Beazer started building with the mansion concept for their Gatherings sub-brand since 2001, taking the design from Maryland to many of its divisions on the East coast and South.
So why has this design concept been so successful?
“Gatherings offers a unique lifestyle opportunity for buyers 55 and older,” explains Troy Radelat, Area President at Beazer Homes. “Buyers are drawn to Gatherings because they can focus less on home maintenance and more on the things they want to do. And because we build Gatherings in vibrant communities where people already want to live, the mansion concept is really responsive to the communities’ surroundings.”
At Lake Nona, residents enjoy unparalleled access to the wellness-driven master planned community. The premier Orlando location is underscored by easy access to Lake Nona Medical City and resort-style amenities onsite.
“At the heart of Gatherings living are built-in opportunities for socialization, fitness, and recreation in an area bustling with energy,” Radelat said. “It invites a rich social experience to grow among a community of adults in similar life stages.”
Jim Riviello, partner at The Martin Architectural Group, notes a growing body of research supporting the mansion concept that lends so well to Gatherings living.
“There is a growing population of active adults 55 to 75 years old who are looking for a lifestyle which allows them to lock and leave for travel. They want their homes to be low maintenance on a controlled-access property. They also say they’re looking for the ability to establish relationships with neighbors while they age in place,” Riviello says. “In addition, there is a subset of active adults we call “solo-agers,” for which the mansion concept is highly desirable. The “solo-agers” are approximately 32% of adults who are single or divorced. They are looking for a for-sale product which is reasonably priced with all the conveniences of an apartment. This product meets that need.”
Homebuyers 55 and older are typically looking to downsize, live in location that is close to family, friends or currently close to an area they currently live. The units at Gatherings range from two to three bedrooms, typically from 1,368 square feet to 1,805 square feet with private garage parking and available storage units, accommodating a variety of needs.
In the Gatherings of Lake Nona community, buyer trends are shifting younger, capturing the interest of those still in the workforce. As more people are able to work from home, Beazer is seeing buyers begin to downsize and prepare for their future at an earlier age. The design of the two or three bedroom floorplans with two bathrooms still give the homeowner the ability to accommodate guests with the ease of low-maintenance.
As the market for 55+ housing grows in suburbs around large metropolitan areas, homes built with the mansion concept offer a unique opportunity for buyers to downsize while maintaining a residential scale and feel.
The Martin Architectural Group was established in 1967 with a commitment to client service and design excellence. Our diverse portfolio includes mixed-use, multi-family residential, senior living communities, retail and office designs, transit-oriented developments, and sustainable projects. We are award-winning architects and planners committed to delivering the highest quality professional services to private sector real estate development.
