Cuningham Welcomes Jill Schroeder as a Residential Market Leader
Cuningham is proud to announce the appointment of Jill Schroeder, CID, as a Market Leader for the firm’s Residential market sector. Schroeder’s appointment marks a targeted investment in specialized market expertise, aligning with the firm’s broader vision to deliver even greater value to its partners through place-based knowledge and market specific insight.
A nationally recognized interior design expert and an industry leading innovator in specialty housing, Schroeder brings more than 26 years of experience designing, planning, and delivering senior living communities across the broad spectrum of care levels.
“Jill is a transformative leader who combines an unparalleled depth of experience in senior living with a relentless drive to innovate,” Amy Cheever, Principal and Executive Director of Cuningham’s Residential Market said. “Her research, leadership, and design intelligence positions Cuningham to deliver exceptional value for our clients as they navigate demographic shifts, rising care expectations, and new operational models.”
At Cuningham, Schroeder will play a critical role in fostering design innovation and strategic partnerships across the senior living continuum: from active adult and 55+ communities, to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. She will lead targeted growth efforts, cultivate long-term client relationships, and guide the design of complex projects—bringing together creative vision and technical expertise to deliver environments that support dignity, connection, and well-being.
“I believe design should both anticipate and elevate the mental and physical well-being of residents and caregivers alike,” Schroeder said. “Joining Cuningham offers a powerful platform to advance living environments that empower residents, foster meaningful connections, increase accessibility, and celebrate the diverse cultures and identities of the people who call them home.”
A Leader in Innovation
Schroeder is nationally known for her leadership in interior design, having led the planning and design for dozens of communities with construction values ranging from $12M to $85M. Her work has reshaped senior housing for organizations such as WesleyLife, Cassia, Presbyterian Homes, and Agemark. Beyond project delivery, Jill is a leading voice in national code development. She is the current President of the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE), an Advisory Board Member for Environments for Aging (EFA), and a member of the Facility Guidelines Institute's (FGI) Health Guidelines Revision Committee, where she serves on the Residential Document Group, helping to update guidance and standards for healthcare and residential care facility design.
A passionate advocate for innovation in aging environments, Schroeder has led numerous national research initiatives, co-authored whitepapers on acute care emergency modular code language and bathing room requirements in assisted, basic, and skilled care environments, and holds multiple patents pending for fall risk mitigation products. With Pope Design Group, she pioneered a ‘small household model’ for long-term care, which has since been adopted as a prototype by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
She’s collaborated closely with manufacturers on the development of adaptive food service solutions, and her creative use of architectural salvage in memory care settings has been recognized by both national publications and HGTV, where she appeared as a featured designer across three seasons. In 2022, she was recognized as an Environments for Aging Design Champion for her influential role in advancing homelike, wellness-focused environments and driving national conversations around resident safety, dignity, and operational efficiency in senior living design.
“Clients today are looking for partners who understand the operational realities, emotional nuances, and long-term vision behind every design decision,” Schroeder said. “By leveraging Cuningham’s deep technical and market sector expertise, as well as its place-based knowledge and cross-disciplinary collaboration, I’m excited to help deliver environments that empower residents, support well-being at every scale, and foster deep community connections.”
Evolving the Organization
Schroeder’s hiring is part of a broader investment in leadership across Cuningham’s practice. The firm is actively strengthening its office and market sector structure through the appointment of new Office Directors and Market Leaders—senior roles designed to deepen place-based expertise and elevate sector-specific insight. Together, these leaders form the foundation of a more connected, responsive, and forward-looking Cuningham—one better equipped to meet the evolving needs of our clients and the communities we serve.
