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Adaptive
reuse of five historic early 20th century buildings to house 88
accessible or adaptable independent-living apartments for elderly
residents.
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Complex
was provided with self-contained commercial kitchen to serve all
residents with high-end dining facility. Common spaces include game/TV
rooms in each building, three story interior atrium with wrap-around
balconies, recreation space with overlooking gallery and ceramic/crafts
room.
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Exterior
brick or granite facades of each building are repaired to their
original appearance. Original fenestration is preserved by use of
false panels behind existing window openings.
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Additions,
up to 13,000-square-feet in size, are designed to replicate or co-exist
with the existing historic building fabric. Elevators are located
to contain the shaft below existing roofline. Where possible, interior
architectural features such as fireplaces, stained oak columns and
pilasters, leaded glass and oak woodwork are preserved. Existing
fireplaces converted to gas-fired units.
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The 31-unit
Brown Apartments is provided with ground-source heat pump system.
At time of construction, one of largest systems of its type
in eastern Pennsylvania.
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The buildings
involved in the project were Brown Apartments, Smith North Apartments,
Smith South Apartments, Charles Eisenlohr Apartments/Eisenlohr Commons
and Louis Eisenlohr Apartments.
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The phase
involving the Charles Eisenlohr Apartments/Eisenlohr Commons and
Louis Eisenlohr Apartments won the Renovation “Award of Excellence”
from Associated Builders & Contractors, 1997.
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Architect
of record: Patrick McSherry (as staff architect of Masonic Homes).
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Completed
December 1997. Construction cost $11.3 million.
