Thursday, August 23, 2012 6:00 AM

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and officials with The Fremont retirement community have scheduled a groundbreaking ceremony today for a planned expansion of the southeast Springfield campus.

The Fremont, 1520 E. Bates St., plans to add two buildings and 56 assisted-living beds and 16 memory-care beds to the community's existing 22 villas and 33 apartments, according to a news release.

The assisted living addition would add one-bedroom and studio apartments, as well as provide personal care services and restaurant-style dining. The memory care cottage would offer a home setting for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The new buildings, which are being designed by H Design Group LLC and constructed by Build LLC, are expected to open in summer 2013. According to the release, The Fremont is owned by Miller-O'Reilly Co. Inc. and managed by Arrow Senior Living Management, a St. Louis-based senior living management company.

"The addition of senior health care services enables Miller-O'Reilly to meet a full spectrum of housing needs for Springfield from student housing to senior housing," said Pat O'Reilly, Miller-O'Reilly partner with Matt Miller, in the release. "It was our original vision to provide a healthy community for seniors to thrive. The Fremont expansion truly gives seniors more programs to meet their changing needs and fulfills our vision."

Kinder and other officials will meet at The Fremont at 4 p.m.

“It is such an honor to have the state’s leading advocate for seniors recognizing the efforts of Miller-O’Reilly,” said Stephanie Harris, CEO of Arrow Senior Living Management, in the release, pointing to Kinder. “The Fremont has experienced tremendous growth during the past 12 months, which prompted Miller-O’Reilly to consider adding assisted living and memory care."

Click here to read Springfield Business Journal: “The Fremont to break ground on expansion” (The Fremont)