Reviving a Piece of DC History: Landmark Hotel Turns Upscale Senior Living
Maplewood's Tom Gaston and BBB's Jill Cavanaugh take us behind the scenes of this adaptive reuse project.
In Washington, D.C., a historic landmark has recently come back to life. The Fairfax Hotel, once frequented by famous figures like Jackie Kennedy and Frank Sinatra, is now Inspīr Embassy Row, a luxury assisted living and memory care community. This $200 million adaptive-reuse project blends historic preservation with modern functionality.
Embassy Row is the second community developed by Maplewood Senior Living under the Inspīr brand. Completed last month, the property at 2100 Massachusetts Ave. NW features 174 apartments, a dedicated wellness floor, a rooftop lounge and various resident programs.
An owner and operator of 17 senior living communities across the U.S., Maplewood acquired the Fairfax in 2021, in partnership with Omega Healthcare Investors. Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners—the firm behind the restoration of Grand Central Terminal—led the hotel’s transformation. To learn more about this endeavor, Multi-Housing News spoke with BBB Partner Jill Cavanaugh and Maplewood Senior Living/Inspīr Co-CEO Tom Gaston.
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What was your main objective for the transformation of this historic hotel into a luxury assisted living and memory care community?
Gaston: The transformation of the historic Fairfax Hotel aligns with our vision of expanding the Inspīr brand into key metropolitan markets where there is growing demand for sophisticated urban senior living. This project represents our commitment to bringing exceptional care and lifestyle experiences to discerning seniors who want to maintain their connection to city life.
We recognize that today’s urban seniors are seeking communities that reflect their refined tastes and cultural preferences while providing the highest standard of care. By thoughtfully adapting iconic properties like the Fairfax or developing new-build projects in urban settings, we’re creating distinctive environments that resonate with seniors who have lived their lives in these vibrant city centers.
Cavanaugh: When we began this project, our goal was to honor the stature and history of the Fairfax Hotel while thoughtfully reimagining its future as a best-in-class senior living community. We aimed to carefully balance its historic character with contemporary, upscale spaces suited for assisted living and memory care… ensuring a seamless blend of past and present.
How difficult was it to balance between preserving the historic elements of the Fairfax Hotel with the need for modern amenities and safety features?
Cavanaugh: Balancing preservation with modernization is always challenging, particularly in this case due to the program and change in occupancy. Our team had to meet fire codes, life safety and egress requirements, necessitating major modifications such as adding a new stairwell while removing another.
While the interior had been extensively renovated over time, we focused on mirroring the grandeur of the historic exterior inside by incorporating architectural detailing, rich materials and a layout that respected the building’s past while ensuring it met contemporary senior living standards.
Gaston: The preservation of historic elements while incorporating modern features aligns perfectly with our vision for creating exceptional senior living experiences. Our residents appreciate the unique character and rich history of the building and benefit from safety systems and modern amenities that support their well-being. This harmonious blend of old and new creates an environment that feels both timeless and contemporary.
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What were the biggest challenges in maintaining the structural integrity and historical accuracy of the building during the restoration process?
Cavanaugh: A major challenge was adapting the structure to meet current live load capacities and introducing modern infrastructure in a manner that was relatively invisible to avoid compromising the scale and quality of the historic spaces. For instance, the original 1920s portion of the building used a terracotta slab system, which required careful coordination to ensure that vertical penetrations for new systems were placed within terracotta panels to avoid compromising structural integrity.
Additionally, there was a significant grade change between the original structure and the 1980s addition, requiring reinforcement and a thoughtful approach to vertical transportation to mediate the different levels. Coordination between architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and structural systems was particularly complex due to the transition from hotel to senior living and the need to design custom, bespoke residences with modern systems that were compatible with the historic elements, such as the rhythm of the exterior windows.
The community’s reception area maintains a hospitality vibe. All images courtesy of Inspır Embassy Row 
The Ember Lounge boasts high ceilings, elegant archways and historic details, including a marble fireplace. 
Ellington Hall is one of the many restaurant-style dining venues and gathering spaces. 
The property also includes a garden bistro and a coffee bar. 
Residents have access to an indoor saltwater swimming pool and spa. 
A portion of the former hotel’s parking garage was repurposed to create the wellness floor, which also features a fitness center. 
The rooftop—once an observation deck in the 1920s—has been transformed into a lounge and terrace providing panoramic views of D.C. landmarks.
What specific architectural elements were retained from the original building, and why did you choose those particular ones?
Cavanaugh: We took inspiration from the Fairfax’s storied past, preserving architectural elements that once framed historic gatherings and intimate moments alike. The original hallway openings, vintage postal chute in the lobby and rich millwork serve as subtle yet powerful reminders of the building’s distinguished history.
The exterior scale and presence—including its windows, cornice and rich architectural details—was also a major focus. Since much of the interior had been altered over time, the design emphasized re-establishing an intuitive relationship between the exterior and interior by incorporating classic architectural elements such as arches, coffers and sculptural fireplaces but with contemporary tones and finishes.
Can you describe the design process for integrating new features like the wellness floor and rooftop lounge into the existing structure?
Cavanaugh: To integrate the brand-new wellness floor, we repurposed a portion of the area from the hotel’s parking garage. We knew that there wasn’t as great of a need at Inspīr for parking as many assisted living and memory care residents don’t use cars as frequently. This space was transformed into a dramatic double-height space housing comprehensive wellness amenities including an indoor saltwater swimming pool, steam room, sauna, salt room and fitness center.
The rooftop was originally used as an observation deck in the 1920s. Over the next 50 years, a small enclosure was built to house modern mechanical equipment. However, this project captured this valuable space on the rooftop and transformed it into a remarkable lounge and outdoor terrace with nearly 360 degree views, from the National Cathedral to the Washington Monument and U.S. Capitol.
Gaston: Each amenity was thoughtfully designed to support our integrated wellness program, which goes beyond traditional fitness offerings to include therapeutic elements like salt therapy and aquatic exercise. The rooftop lounge serves as both a social gathering space and a venue for our curated programming that keeps residents engaged with the vibrant city life around them.
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In what ways does the design of Inspīr Embassy Row enhance the living experience for residents, particularly in terms of intellectual and cultural engagement?
Cavanaugh: Inspīr and BBB closely collaborated to develop an elevated setting that would exceed residents’ expectations and desires for a senior living community. We approached the layout of the interior architecture to ensure ease of movement and social interaction with strong and visually clear paths, nodes along those paths for resting and conversing and distinct features at the ends of those paths.
We also knew it was a priority for Inspīr/Maplewood to create an environment that fosters both comfort and engagement. Each space is thoughtfully designed with distinct flooring, ceiling patterns, colors and finishes to create distinct visual separation and enhance intuitive wayfinding for residents. This approach reinforces familiar cognitive patterns while encouraging both spontaneous and intentional social interactions.
Additionally, we intentionally designed unique destinations throughout the building to accommodate a variety of daily activities—whether it’s enjoying morning coffee, gathering for afternoon social events, unwinding in the spa, or savoring an elegant dinner and cocktails in the evening.
How do you expect senior living adaptive-reuse projects to evolve in the coming years, particularly in dense urban environments like Washington, D.C.?
Gaston: Adaptive-reuse projects in senior living are expected to increase, particularly in urban settings where available land for new construction is limited. Future projects will likely focus even more on blending historic preservation with wellness and sustainability features. The approach of treating senior living communities like high-end hospitality environments—prioritizing luxury, accessibility and social engagement—will continue to evolve. Additionally, we can expect more integration of smart building technologies to enhance safety, convenience and health monitoring for residents.
