For decades, the conversation around 55-plus housing centered on downsizing, retirement and amenities. Today, that conversation has changed. Buyers are less interested in slowing down than they are in finding communities that support healthier lifestyles, meaningful relationships and new opportunities to grow.
Few people have watched that evolution more closely than Jeff McQueen, president of Shea Homes Active Lifestyle Communities. Under the Trilogy by Shea Homes brand, the company has spent more than 25 years helping redefine what active adult living can look like, creating resort-style communities that place wellness, hospitality and social connection at the center of everyday life.
The approach has helped Trilogy earn recognition as “America’s Most Trusted Active Adult Resort Builder” for 14 consecutive years.
But McQueen believes the industry’s biggest transformation is still ahead. As Generation X begins entering the market, buyer expectations continue to evolve, with greater emphasis on flexibility, lifelong learning, personalized wellness and experiences that foster a genuine sense of belonging.
We sat down with McQueen to discuss how Trilogy has grown beyond building homes to creating lifestyle-focused communities.
What is the story behind the brand and its growth in the 55-plus market?
Trilogy was founded on a simple but powerful observation: As people transition beyond the child-raising and career-building years, they are not looking to slow down. They are looking for a new chapter with greater freedom, purpose and connection.
When Trilogy launched more than 25 years ago, much of the industry focused primarily on housing. We took a different view. We believed the real opportunity was creating communities that help people live better lives. The homes are important, but they are ultimately enablers of something bigger: wellness, connection, personal growth and belonging.
That philosophy has allowed Trilogy to evolve from a single community into one of the most recognized brands in the active adult sector. Our growth has never been driven by simply building more homes.
It has been driven by consistently investing in the member experience—thoughtfully designed communities, hospitality-driven operations, wellness programming and social environments that help people create meaningful relationships and stay actively engaged in life.
In many ways, Trilogy is better understood as a lifestyle platform than a homebuilder. We design and build exceptional homes, but what truly differentiates us is the operating system around them—the hospitality, programming, wellness and social infrastructure that transforms a neighborhood into a community.
The result is a brand that has remained relevant through multiple generations of buyers because it is rooted in a timeless human need: the desire to live a happier, healthier and more connected life.
What’s behind the success of being named “America’s Most Trusted Active Adult Resort Builder” recognition for 14 straight years?
Trust is earned over time through consistency. In our business, people are making one of the most important financial and lifestyle decisions of their lives. They are not simply buying a home. They are deciding how they want to spend the next 20 or 30 years. That comes with a tremendous responsibility.
What has sustained our success is a long-term commitment to delivering on the promises we make. We design and build quality homes, but equally important, we continue investing in the experience after the sale.
Our hospitality platform, wellness initiatives, member programming and community operations are all designed to ensure that the lifestyle people imagine during the buying process becomes the lifestyle they actually experience.
Our trust has been strengthened because we continue to challenge ourselves. We have never assumed that what worked 10 years ago will be sufficient 10 years from now. Whether it is wellness, technology, hospitality or community design, we are constantly asking how we can better serve our members and adapt to changing expectations.
The recognition is gratifying, but we view it as a responsibility more than an achievement. It reminds us every day that trust must be earned again and again.
How have the expectations of today’s 55-plus homebuyers changed over the last decade?
The biggest shift is that today’s buyers are increasingly focused on quality of life rather than simply retirement. Ten years ago, many conversations centered around home size, maintenance reduction and traditional amenities.
Those things still matter, but today’s buyers are asking deeper questions. They want to know how a community will support their physical health, mental well-being, social connections and overall sense of purpose.
They are also arriving with higher expectations. Many are continuing careers, launching new ventures, traveling extensively, pursuing lifelong learning or caring for family members. They do not view this chapter as an ending. They see it as a period of reinvention.
As a result, buyers are evaluating communities through a much broader lens. They are interested in wellness ecosystems rather than fitness centers. They are interested in authentic social opportunities rather than scheduled activities. They are looking for hospitality, flexibility and experiences that enhance everyday life.
The emerging Gen X buyer is accelerating many of these trends, but frankly, we are seeing them across generations. The common denominator is not age. It is a desire to live with intention.
What does the term “wellness is the new luxury” mean in practice at Trilogy communities?
Historically, luxury was often defined by things—larger homes, premium finishes and exclusive amenities.
Today, we are seeing a different definition emerge. Increasingly, people view time, health, energy, meaningful relationships and longevity as their most valuable assets.
That is what we mean when we say wellness is the new luxury.
At Trilogy, wellness is not confined to a fitness center or a list of classes. It is integrated into how communities are planned, how clubs operate, how programming is developed and how members engage with one another. Our philosophy extends across physical, emotional, social, intellectual and spiritual well-being.
That can mean recovery spaces, advanced fitness technology, walking networks, educational programming, healthy culinary offerings, volunteer opportunities, inspirational speakers, meditation experiences, resident clubs or simply creating environments where friendships form naturally.
Our goal is not to tell people what wellness should be. Our goal is to create a platform that helps each person pursue their own version of living well.
What separates Trilogy’s wellness approach from the traditional active adult community model?
Many communities offer wellness amenities. We focus on building a wellness culture. That is an important distinction. Traditional active adult communities often emphasize facilities—fitness centers, pools, courts and activity schedules. Those are important components, but they are only one piece of the equation.
Our philosophy begins with the understanding that lasting well-being is multidimensional. Research increasingly shows that physical health, social connection, cognitive engagement, purpose and emotional resilience are all deeply interconnected. We design communities with that reality in mind.
Equally important, we operate our communities through a hospitality-driven model. Professional teams actively curate experiences, introduce new ideas, create engagement opportunities and help members discover new interests and relationships. The lifestyle is not left to chance.
In many ways, we are less interested in what we build than in what those spaces help people become. A wellness center matters. A community culture that helps people feel energized, connected and optimistic matters even more.
That is where we believe the future of the category is headed. The industry has historically focused on delivering homes and amenities. We believe the next generation of leadership in this space will come from creating operating systems for better living—purposefully designed environments where wellness, connection and personal growth are continuously supported.
One-on-One with Shea Homes’ Jeff McQueen
Describe a typical day.
My 5:05 a.m. alarm goes off, and I hit the gym for a workout, getting home by 6:35 a.m. I have some coffee and a protein shake, check my email and head to the office around 8 a.m., where the day is filled with in-office and virtual staff meetings. I’m home around 6:30 p.m. to have dinner with my wife. Then we watch an hour of a streaming series together, catch up on the news and are in bed around 9:30 p.m.
What’s the biggest item on your to-do list?
Trying to stay in front of potentially changing customer expectations as we transition from Boomers to Gen X and how we can delight the next generation.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
Watching our team design and execute beautiful communities that nurture active wellness and social connectivity among our members and hearing stories about members thriving in our communities.
What was the best advice you ever received?
Begin with the end in mind. Follow the process. Stay focused. Be patient. Great outcomes aren’t easy.
What’s the best thing a client ever said to you?
“Your team has exceeded our expectations.”
