Business Details
Award-Winning Senior Living Architects in Tucson
Lizard Rock Designs is an award-winning architectural firm based in Tucson, Arizona, dedicated to creating innovative and sustainable environments that prioritize human needs and community impact. With over 25 years of experience, we specialize in senior living, healthcare, multifamily housing, and commercial architecture, focusing on designs that reflect a deep understanding of environmental stewardship and functional aesthetics. Our approach emphasizes person-centered spaces, from small-scale senior living communities to large healthcare facilities, ensuring each project meets the unique needs of its users while adhering to rigorous sustainability standards. We combine evidence-based design principles with cutting-edge technology to enhance patient care, resident well-being, and community integration. Our team, led by a LEED Accredited Principal with national licensing, has successfully navigated complex regulatory frameworks for tax credit, HUD, and Green Building Certification projects.We prioritize client collaboration, transparent communication, and tailored solutions that transform architectural visions into enduring, code-compliant realities. Our portfolio spans diverse sectors, including dementia care campuses, continuing care retirement centers, and mixed-income housing developments, all designed to foster dignity, comfort, and social connection. Through strategic material selection, passive solar design, and energy-efficient systems, we create spaces that balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility. Our commitment to excellence extends to navigating permitting processes, construction documentation, and post-occupancy support, ensuring seamless project execution from concept to completion. By maintaining an intentionally small firm structure, we guarantee hands-on involvement in every project, delivering personalized service that aligns with our clients' goals and the communities we serve.
Services
Senior Living Architecture
Healthcare Design
Affordable Housing
Commercial Architecture
Multifamily Housing
Highlights and features
- 25+ years of architectural experience with national licensing
- LEED-certified sustainable design expertise
- Specialized in person-centered senior living environments
- Proven success with HUD and tax credit projects
- Hands-on principal involvement in every project
Associations and certifications
- LEED Accredited Professional
- American Institute of Architects
- Leading Age
- American Society of Healthcare Engineers
Services
Senior Living Architecture
We create non-institutional senior living environments ranging from 10-person small homes to 200-resident continuing care centers. Our designs prioritize dementia-friendly layouts, community spaces, and accessibility features that enhance resident dignity and staff efficiency. Projects include independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice care facilities.
Healthcare Design
Our healthcare architecture integrates evidence-based design principles to improve patient outcomes and staff workflows. We specialize in hospitals, specialty labs, clinics, and niche medical facilities that balance technological requirements with healing environments through strategic use of natural light, materials, and spatial organization.
Affordable Housing
We deliver compliant affordable housing solutions meeting HUD standards and tax credit requirements. Our approach combines regulatory expertise with innovative design to create dignified, energy-efficient living spaces that address both market-rate and low-income housing needs across diverse communities.
Commercial Architecture
We design commercial and civic structures that reflect community values while maintaining functional flexibility. Our projects include public buildings and mixed-use developments that balance aesthetic appeal with long-term durability to serve evolving community needs across generations.
Multifamily Housing
Our multifamily housing designs create sustainable, livable communities through thoughtful spatial planning and material selection. We specialize in market-rate apartments, mixed-income developments, and senior housing that optimize resident comfort while meeting regulatory requirements for safety and accessibility.
People
Thomas McQuillen
Principal
With 25+ years of experience, Tom leads all LRD projects. A Harvard-trained architect licensed in all 50 states, he specializes in senior living and healthcare design. His LEED accreditation and memberships in AIA and ASHE reflect his industry leadership.
Questions
What architectural specializations does Lizard Rock Designs offer?
We specialize in senior living, healthcare facilities, multifamily housing, and commercial architecture with a focus on sustainable, person-centered design solutions.
Do you handle both design and regulatory compliance?
Yes, we manage full project lifecycles including HUD compliance, tax credit requirements, Green Building Certification, and all necessary permitting processes.
What makes your senior living designs unique?
Our person-centered approach creates non-institutional environments with dementia-friendly features, community spaces, and accessibility elements tailored to residents' specific needs.
Can you work on national projects outside Arizona?
Our principal holds NCAARB certification for all 50 states, enabling us to manage architectural projects across the United States.
How do you incorporate sustainability into designs?
We use passive solar design, energy-efficient systems, and environmentally friendly materials while maintaining functional requirements and regulatory compliance.
What project sizes do you typically handle?
We work on projects ranging from small 10-resident senior homes to large 200-bed continuing care facilities and multi-building housing developments.
