Benchmark at Mount Pleasant, located at 2 Zeiss Drive in Thornwood, has opened as Benchmark Senior Living’s latest community for seniors. Benchmark, which is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts, was founded in 1997 by the company’s Chairman and CEO Tom Grape. It operates 70 communities throughout the Northeast, with two in New York and nine in Fairfield County.
Benchmark has one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments along with rooms and suites for memory care. Amenities include a movie theater and card room. Services include memory care for people who have issues such as Alzheimer’s or dementia and assisted living care.

“We’re proud to be Thornwood’s first assisted living community and look forward to supporting residents and their families for many years to come,” said Sara Humphreys, executive director of Benchmark at Mount Pleasant.
The project was presented to the Mount Pleasant Planning Board with plans for 74 assisted living and 26 memory care units. Benchmark developed the project with Shelbourne Healthcare Development Group LLC. The site plans for the project were approved in 2022 by the Town of Mount Pleasant.
According to the Faulkner Design Group of Dallas, which worked on the project, “Finishes are selected for both elegance and durability: flooring that balances warmth underfoot with easy maintenance, color schemes that are gentle and soothing, and fixtures that combine modern aesthetics with senior-friendly ergonomics. Memory care areas have additional design features — private, secure courtyard access, sunroom space, and a hair salon — which not only support safety and specialized care needs, but also enable resident choice and dignity in daily routines.”













