Inspīr Embassy Row has been recognized with the 2025 Senior Housing News (SHN) Architecture & Design Award in the Renovation/Repositioning (Building) category, an achievement that highlights both the community’s visionary design and its role in redefining luxury senior living in Washington, D.C.
This prestigious award celebrates the transformation of the former Fairfax Hotel, a 1920s landmark in the heart of Embassy Row, into a vibrant community where history and modernity coexist in harmony. The judges commended Inspīr Embassy Row for its purposeful design, adaptive reuse, and resident-centered innovation – hallmarks of the Inspīr philosophy.
Honoring the Past, Redefining the Future
The story of Inspīr Embassy Row begins with a historic foundation. Once a grand hotel hosting diplomats, dignitaries, and artists, the building stood as a testament to Washington’s architectural legacy. When Maplewood Senior Living acquired the property, the vision was clear: to honor the building’s storied past while crafting a new environment that speaks to the needs and aspirations of today’s older adults.
Through a meticulous and sensitive renovation, led by renowned architecture firm Beyer Blinder Belle, the project maintained the character of the original structure – its arches, millwork, and elegance – while reimagining its interiors for comfort, safety, and connection. Every design decision was intentional, from preserving the façade’s limestone detail to creating open, light-filled common spaces that foster interaction and well-being.
The result is a space that feels both timeless and forward-looking, creating a community rooted in history yet designed for the next generation of inspired aging.
Design with Intention
At Inspīr Embassy Row, every architectural element tells a story of purpose. The design team approached each space through the lens of resident experience, ensuring that the environment itself promotes health, ease, and engagement.
- Wayfinding with meaning. Subtle visual and tactile cues, including variation in flooring, lighting, and material, aid orientation and comfort, especially for residents living with cognitive change.
- Wellness woven into architecture. The inclusion of a saltwater pool, rooftop terrace, fitness and therapy rooms, and restorative outdoor courtyards connects residents with nature, movement, and social vitality.
- Spaces that inspire connection. Warm gathering areas, elegant dining venues, and intimate lounges invite conversation, reflection, and community – hallmarks of the Inspīr lifestyle.
Every curve, color, and corridor were designed with human behavior in mind, creating an architectural expression of empathy and understanding.
A New Standard of Urban Luxury
Inspīr Embassy Row stands as a model for how senior living can thrive within an urban context. By transforming a historic building into a state-of-the-art residence, the project preserves cultural memory while elevating the experience of modern aging.
The interiors evoke the sophistication of a boutique hotel, complete with refined finishes, chef-inspired dining spaces, and private apartments that blend technology with tranquility. Yet beneath the surface elegance lies a profound intention: to empower independence, celebrate individuality, and nurture community.
This fusion of hospitality design and holistic wellness reflects Inspīr’s belief that aging well begins with living beautifully.
A Recognition of Vision
The SHN award acknowledges not only architectural excellence but also the greater philosophy that guides the Inspīr brand. Inspīr Embassy Row represents a future where senior living design is not about limitation but liberation—a place where every detail, from natural light to material texture, contributes to quality of life.
By reimagining a D.C. landmark with sensitivity and purpose, Inspīr has set a new benchmark for what is possible in senior living: spaces that dignify, empower, and inspire.
Experience Inspīr Embassy Row
To learn more about Inspīr Embassy Row and explore its architecture, amenities, and lifestyle offerings, visit www.inspirseniorliving.com or schedule a private tour.
