Senior living center breaks ground on $20 million project

SARASOTA — Sunnyside Village in Sarasota held a groundbreaking Wednesday for an expansion project that's expected to cost about $20 million.

The senior living community will construct a new and expanded health, rehabilitation and memory care center. The center will add more private room accommodations for skilled nursing residents, according to a press release. It will also add an 18-apartment assisted living memory care center. 

The rehabilitation and therapy center will enlarge its space, adding more equipment and an indoor therapy pool. 

The 44,326-square-foot, two-story building will also include multiple living rooms, multi-purpose rooms and activities rooms as well as an outdoor veranda, balcony and courtyard. 

The project was designed by SFCS Architects. The general contractor is McIntyre, Elwell & Strammer. The new health and rehabilitation center is expected to be complete in summer 2019. The overall renovation of the project and memory care is expected to be complete in 2020. 

Sunnyside Village is a nonprofit that has been operating since 1968. It provides independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing to almost 400 people.