For more than a decade, Brightview Senior Living has been committed to building and operating sustainable, healthy communities to enhance the well-being of our residents, families, and associates. Across the portfolio to-date, 25% of Brightview communities have already achieved or are actively pursuing LEED Certification. Brightview’s Green Building Design Standards use LEED as a guiding principle, and in 2019, the company was recognized as an Outstanding Developer by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
One of our newer communities, Brightview Harrison, demonstrates how meaningful sustainability initiatives can create healthier, more vibrant places to live. Located in Westchester County, New York, Brightview Harrison was recently featured in Environments for Aging. Doors opened just last year in November 2024.
Designed with an abundance of outdoor spaces and amenities, Brightview Harrison fosters social interaction, wellness, and community engagement. The Southern Garden includes planting beds, and a dedicated roof garden offers therapeutic outdoor space for residents living with dementia. Other sustainable and healthy features include native and adaptive plantings that promote biodiversity and water efficiency, ample natural light and views that connect indoor and outdoor environments, and low-emitting materials that improve indoor air quality. The community also incorporates energy-efficient lighting and appliances, convenient recycling stations, electric vehicle charging, and a walking path that encourages outdoor activity and supports an active, healthy lifestyle.
Living Wall Feature: An 80-foot granite rock wall anchors the rear of the property as a dramatic focal point, complemented by repurposed stone and thoughtful landscaping that lends a softer, natural feel to the outdoor dining and social gathering area.
From Garden to Table: A Collaboration with Reach Academy
Vibrant Living Director for Brightview Harrison, Katy Giguere, also shared an incredible on-site Farmers Market initiative that she and other BV team members have been working on for residents. This past summer, Brightview Harrison residents enjoyed a special partnership with Reach Academy, a nearby school for students with disabilities. They offer a unique summer program to students that is focused on agriculture and life skills. Each week, students from Reach Academy brought a pop-up farmers market to the community, free of charge, sharing fresh produce grown through their network of partnerships with local gardens.
"The community of Brightview and the community of Reach Academy have a beautiful connection. The residents enjoy receiving freshly grown fruits and vegetables that encourage sustainability and healthy living. They also enjoy seeing the inspiring and kind acts of young people." - Wren Warren, Brightview Harrison Vibrant Living Assistant
When some residents mentioned that they didn’t have the means to use or cook the vegetables themselves, the idea blossomed into something even more interactive: weekly cooking demonstrations with residents and students preparing dishes like kale chips, pesto, and collard greens together. The program has fostered connection, learning, and shared purpose between generations and diverse groups of people. When students returned to school this fall, they even invited Brightview residents to volunteer in their gardens, continuing a partnership rooted in sustainability, community, and care.
Brightview Senior Living builds, owns, and operates award-winning vibrant senior living communities in eight states along the East Coast: Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. We offer senior Independent Living, Assisted Living, Enhanced Care, and Wellspring Village™, a specialized neighborhood for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Schedule a personal visit to experience our communities firsthand.
