More than 170 people watched via Zoom when Barclay Friends, the West Chester, PA, not-for-profit continuing care retirement community affiliated with The Kendal Corp., held a virtual ribbon-cutting for its newest building, Preston, July 30.

The 61,000-square-foot structure features 60 independent living and assisted living units, including 20 units in “neighborhoods” for those who need a secure memory care environment. The building also includes dedicated spaces such as an art room, library, fitness room and hair salon.

The Preston building replaces the Woolman building, which was destroyed in a five-alarm fire in November 2017 in which four residents died. Kendal said that the new building is constructed with steel and concrete, and the exterior features brick, stone and siding known for its attractiveness, durability and flame-retardant properties.

“The Preston building is an incredible example of [what] can be done when we put our minds to it, when we put our hearts to it and when we get after it together,” Kendal President and CEO Sean Kelly said at the ribbon-cutting.

The event concluded with a virtual tour of several interior and exterior areas. Barclay Friends now is offering virtual tours as well as socially distant in-person tours of the building, which is named for 19th-century Quaker activist and physician Ann Preston.