A living environment: NewBridge on the Charles cultivates community

“At the heart of the Hebrew SeniorLife housing philosophy is the fundamental belief that buildings are more than just places to live.” This belief animates NewBridge on the Charles, a continuing care retirement community in Dedham, Massachusetts, developed by the Boston-based nonprofit.

Opened on budget and ahead of schedule in June 2009, NewBridge on the Charles represents a significant expansion for Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a provider of healthcare and housing for older adults and an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Ruth Stark, the community’s director of marketing, sees the $485-million CCRC as “really the manifestation of what HSL is all about: giving people choices, keeping them independent and secure, promoting wellness and social engagement. And we’re taking respect for the environment to a new level,” she says.