Life Course Community: A Senior-centric Approach to an Inclusive Urban Development

Abstract

This thesis challenges society’s current attitude towards aging by proposing a senior-centric approach to community design – a Life Course Community. This planning strategy supports people so they may age-in-place and ensure an inclusive life course by providing physical, social, and organizational environments that promote independence and a sense of belonging. This thesis explores how such communities should be designed and demonstrates their universal benefits.

The Life Course Community explores the redevelopment potential of Shannon Park, an abandoned neighborhood in North Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Shannon Park used to be a civic hub where people from surrounding communities came for public services and social events. Redeveloping it into a community that is integrated across the spectrum of age will reaffirm it as a central gathering place for all of North Dartmouth’s residents.