CHICAGO, IL (February 25, 2014) — One Covenant Retirement Community in California debuted a new $1 million remodeling last week, and another moved closer to opening its $4 million addition.

Covenant Village of Turlock opened the doors to its floor-to-ceiling renovation of its 52-room Sequoia assisted living residence on February 17.

“Our architects and designers collaborated to create areas where people can visit, talk, socialize, and participate—all the elements that build community while emphasizing wellness and quality of life,” says Covenant Village of Turlock Executive Director Robert Howell.

Local dignitaries were on hand, and assisted living resident Elaine Rainey hoisted oversized sheers for the official ribbon cutting.

At the Samarkand in Santa Barbara, the final roof tile was set in place on its new 9,527-square-foot, two-story LifeCenter.

“We are being both environmentally sensitive and socially responsible in bringing something new to our campus and to the city,” says Samarkand executive director Tim Ficker. “We are maintaining the design style that gives our area such unique appeal, reflecting Santa Barbara’s commitment to environmental consciousness and using socially responsible purchasing that supports local economic objectives.”

The building will feature elements of LEED certified design, construction, operation, and maintenance solutions, Ficker said. Nearly 100 percent of the material from the maintenance building, which was removed to make way for the LifeCenter, was recycled. Permeable pavers used in walkway and plaza areas will reduce storm water runoff and enhance the return to groundwater, and landscaping irrigation system uses reclaimed and recycled wastewater treated to remove solids and certain impurities.

When complete, the new building will be the hub of community life for the Samarkand’s 343 residents. It will house a café with indoor and outdoor seating areas, multipurpose room, a wellness clinic and fitness center, computer lab, office space for the community’s 40 resident-led committees, a studio for the in-house TV channel, a gallery of Samarkand history, and space for the residents’ clothing and accessories resale boutique.

The LifeCenter is scheduled to open later this spring. It is the third building Samarkand has added to its campus since 2000.

Both retirement communities are administered by Covenant Retirement Communities Inc., which is a ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church.