El Camino Real Senior Living

PMB is a healthcare real estate developer with a mission to improve healthcare delivery and positively impact our communities. Focused on the continuum of care, PMB reached out to WATG to collaborate on El Camino Real Senior Living, enhancing their senior living portfolio and delivering an experience based on the alignment of their values, objectives, and culture. This opportunity was also supported by the City of San Diego to provide thoughtfully planned assisted living accommodations that will serve the community’s aging population.

The project provides 105 residences, including 87 assisted living units and 18 memory care units, creating an environment that cultivates both comfort and dignity while promoting socialization, and offering services and care that support residents’ wellbeing.

Located on church grounds, the senior living community introduces a model of cultural and intergenerational living. The design responds to the evolving lifestyles of older adults while nurturing a vibrant, supportive setting for their later years.

The site is relatively flat and undeveloped, with its southern boundary adjacent to single-family homes. This adjacency raised concerns during planning, addressed by incorporating generous setbacks, dense tree planting for screening, and orienting open spaces and shorter building edges toward the south to reduce massing impacts. These measures lead to unanimous city council approval.

The architectural concept draws from San Diego’s Mission and Spanish Revival heritage. Light stucco walls define volumes that play with California’s light and shadow, while details such as tiled staircases, wooden beams, wrought iron accents, and window shutters evoke a sense of local tradition, interpreted through a contemporary architectural vocabulary.

A wide range of of amenities have been incorporated, including welcoming dining venues, a multipurpose room, fitness center, salon, and theater, ensuring residents’ daily needs, interests, and activities are fully accommodated.

The community places strong emphasis on the integration of nature into daily life. Landscaped courtyards, walking paths, and paseos connect outdoor spaces and encourage spontaneous interactions among residents, complemented by architectural details that capture the relaxed, sunlit spirit of San Diego living.

From water features and tilework to wrought iron screens, the project anticipates multiple opportunities for custom fabrications. These crafted details will contribute to the building’s character and sense of place, especially as the design advances. Opportunities will also be explored to integrate locally sourced materials, reinforcing both authenticity and sustainability.

“I am reminded of San Diegans who shared during City Council meetings their personal stories about driving long distances to visit parents and family members because there were no senior living communities nearby. It’s a great feeling knowing this project will provide much-needed senior housing for local residents in an established community with rich history and a beautiful natural setting.”— Natalie Ruiz, Project Director, Architecture

El Camino Real Senior Living provides a community rooted in heritage and designed for contemporary needs. With thoughtful planning, it creates a dignified environment where residents find connection, well-being, and a true sense of place within San Diego’s cultural and natural landscape.