The Sopris Lodge Discovery Series: Introduction

Blog Updated: 9.12.2025

Sopris Lodge at Carbondale is a senior living campus designed to reflect the values of community, legacy, and connection to the Colorado landscape. Designed by Z Group Architecture & Interior Design, the project is rooted in site-sensitive and sustainable architecture that enhances the human experience.

As part of our Discovery Series, this blog introduces the project, its purpose, and its design approach. Future posts will share renderings, construction images, and floor plans for the Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care facilities that make up this campus.

👉 Explore the full Sopris Lodge at Carbondale project here.

Designing for Community and Care

At Z Group, we believe architecture should respond to both place and people. Sopris Lodge was created to:

• Provide welcoming spaces for residents and their families.

• Incorporate natural light and warm materials that create comfort and a sense of home.

• Ensure efficient layouts that support staff while maintaining a nurturing environment.

• Reflect Carbondale’s cultural and natural character, with a strong connection to the outdoors.

This project was designed not only for beauty, but also for the well-being, dignity, and independence of its residents.

Independent Living

The Independent Living building spans 33,243 square feet across two stories in a wing-shaped plan. It features 30 well-appointed apartments and amenities, including a bistro, a bar with outdoor seating, and multiple lounges and game rooms.

Residents have access to a fitness center, spa, salon, library, meditation room, and multipurpose spaces for private events or family gatherings. A dedicated room for visits with grandchildren and a pet service center ensure family life remains central. Storage units on the lower level allow for easy seasonal transitions.

The building is designed as a micro-community with comforts similar to a resort, balanced with the familiarity of a small village. Its proximity to downtown Carbondale and the Rio Grande Trail enriches daily life with access to shops, restaurants, and recreation.

Assisted Living and Memory Care

Across the landscaped roundabout entry is the Assisted Living and Memory Care building, nearly 33,000 square feet.

• Memory Care occupies the first floor, with 24 dwelling units, a dining room with a commercial kitchen, a library, a therapy and fitness center, a media room, and a salon. The floor is designed with ring-shaped corridors that guide residents back to their starting point, reducing confusion. Corridors are treated like streetscapes with seating outside units to encourage social interaction. A large two-story central courtyard and Memory Care Garden provide safe outdoor areas with defined paths, no dead ends, and therapeutic benefits from contact with nature.

• Assisted Living is located on the second floor, with 24 dwelling units. Amenities include a dining room, salon, multipurpose room, library, and fitness and therapy areas. The design repeats the ring-shaped corridors and overlooks into the central courtyard, promoting connection between residents and nature.

This thoughtful approach ensures that families can stay together on the same campus, even when their care needs differ.

A Commitment to Caring Design

Z Group collaborated with Pacifica Senior Living RE Fund, LLC, Rocky Mountain Senior Housing, WellAge Senior Communities, Evolve Structural Design, River City Consultants, Bighorn Consulting Engineers, Yeh and Associates, and landscape architect Julie Wolverton to bring this vision to life.

Our commitment is to create facilities that combine architecture with current research in memory care and senior living. These spaces are designed to support independence, provide comfort, and improve quality of life for aging families in the Roaring Fork Valley.

As construction continues, future posts in the Discovery Series will dive deeper into each facility and share updated images of the progress.

👉 Visit the Sopris Lodge Assisted Living portfolio page to learn more.

Let’s Build Together

At Z Group, design is about more than creating buildings — it’s about crafting spaces that support health, independence, and legacy. Sopris Lodge reflects our commitment to creating environments that nurture people as much as they inspire them.

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Your journey. Your story. Your legacy.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sopris Lodge at Carbondale?

Sopris Lodge is a senior living community in Carbondale, Colorado, featuring Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care facilities.

How is Sopris Lodge designed to support residents?

The campus provides comfortable apartments, community gathering spaces, and specialized amenities such as therapy centers, courtyards, and safe gardens.

How does Z Group incorporate memory care research into design?

Features like ring-shaped corridors, streetscape-style hallways, and safe gardens were chosen to reduce confusion and enhance independence for memory care residents.

Why is the location important?

Located near downtown Carbondale and the Rio Grande Trail, Sopris Lodge offers residents independence, walkability, and a strong connection to community life.

Who designed Sopris Lodge?

Z Group Architecture & Interior Design, Aspen’s longest-standing architecture firm, designed Sopris Lodge with a focus on sustainability and community-centered care.