30 High-Profile Focus: Senior / Assisted Living April 2026
Building More Than Space: Expanding Care at Benchmark at Rye continued from page 29
improve outcomes. During interior fit-out, finish work and system commissioning progressed in parallel, supported by realtime communication and field leadership.
The building itself is designed for durability and performance. Slab-ongrade construction, metal wall framing, and bar joists support a hybrid roof system, while fiber cement siding provides resilience suited to New England’ s coastal climate.
Supporting infrastructure includes a new primary electrical service, a 500KW generator, and a VRF mechanical system with integrated energy recovery, along with an 8-inch domestic and fire suppression water system. Zone-based sequencing allowed multiple trades to work simultaneously, while prioritizing safety and quality and enabling us to stay on schedule.
From Strategy to Execution
This project exemplifies South Coast Improvement Company’ s long-standing relationship with Benchmark Senior Living. Through the Build. Refresh. Consult. Initiative, both teams collaborate to evaluate assets, identify growth opportunities, and align capital investments with operational needs. Through Build. Refresh. Consult., this project moved from strategic vision to built reality, powered by trusted partnerships across both client and trades.
The Impact: Strengthening the Seacoast Community
The Benchmark at Rye expansion delivers meaningful impact beyond the campus. The addition of 70 assisted living apartments addresses growing demand across the Seacoast, allowing residents to remain closer to home and family.
The project also contributes to the regional economy, supporting a large network of subcontractors during construction and creating long-term jobs in healthcare and operations. At the same time, new amenity spaces, including dining, wellness, and social areas, elevate the resident experience through a hospitality-driven model of care.
This project doesn’ t just expand a building— it expands access to an exceptional senior living experience, strengthens the local workforce, and enhances quality of life across the Seacoast. The Benchmark at Rye expansion ultimately demonstrates how early collaboration, disciplined coordination, and strong partnerships can deliver lasting value, transforming strategic vision into a built environment that benefits both residents and the broader community.
The Benchmark Difference Benchmark is New England’ s largest
senior living provider with 70 independent living, assisted living, memory care and continuing care communities and over 7,200 dedicated associates providing compassionate care and outstanding experiences throughout the Northeast. The Waltham, Mass.-based company was founded over 29 years ago by Tom Grape with the purpose of Transforming
Reception area
Lives Through Human Connection. Since then, Benchmark has continued to set the industry standard, having won over 300 hundred local, regional and national awards for its care, programs and as a top workplace.
Brian Keenan is a project manager at South Coast Improvement Company( SCIC).
Finished assisted living apartment interior www. high-profile. com