KTGY Names 55+Studio Director

LOS ANGELES—Architecture and planning firm KTGY Group has named Doug Ahlstrom as director of its 55+Studio program, an age-targeted platform that focuses on senior housing options, GlobeSt.com reports exclusively. This is part of KTGY's expansion of the program due to heightened demand for senior living in the Los Angeles market.

“Today's senior residents are looking for more options in their living environment. They are more tech-savvy and health conscious,” Ahlstrom tells GlobeSt.com. “In response, developers are adding more programs and expanding the required space for the wellness and fitness areas. Designs are incorporating features that promote physical activities like stretching, walking routes as well as socializing. They are also including in wall drinking and water bottle filling stations along the walking routes rather than just in fitness areas.”

Ahlstrom brings over 35 years of experience to the platform, and has worked on everything from high-end and market-rate senior living to affordable housing. He has overseen the design of assisted living, independent care facilities, Alzheimer's/memory support, adult day care, seniors' special needs and community wellness centers. Prior to joining KTGY Group, he served as the director of seniors housing at KEPHART and was a principal with Professional Design Consultants.

In his career he has overcome a wealth of challenges in completing his projects, from financial barriers—which he says are still an issue—to a lack of education about the product type. “Some of the pitfalls that are occurring in the service enriched category come from a multifamily developer base emerging out of the recession. They are looking for the next best thing recognizing that there is an increased demand in the seniors housing arena that will last for the next couple of decades,” he explains. “These developers tend to be more reactive than proactive in educating themselves with regards to what today's seniors are really looking for and need in an Independent Seniors Community. Similarly, in the Assisted Living market, while the large operators had time and experience to retool their programs, some of the smaller developers and operators who took a hiatus from the business may also revert to their old programs and methods of operation without taking the time to focus on the newly evolved needs of this senior population.”

KTGY has also tapped Soo Im to join the 55+Studio Group as a senior project manager. Im has more than 18 years of experience in the industry, and will lead age-qualified community projects for the platform.