St. Hugh Lofts
Client: HACE CDC
Size: 31,000 s.f.
St. Hugh Lofts transforms and revitalizes a once-vacant parochial school building in the North Philadelphia neighborhood still colloquially referred to as “St. Hugh.” In this next chapter of the building's life, it will be converted into 30 one-bedroom, low-income rental residential units tailored towards senior living. Developed by the local community development corporation, HACE, St. Hugh Lofts achieves one of the goals established in HACE’s neighborhood plan, dubbed “The Good Lands,” which targets supporting the needs of a growing aging population.
For the comfort and independence of the senior residents, the building will feature a number of universal design elements allowing its residents to age in place. The building will also offer amenities that support senior health and wellness and has been designed to promote social interactions and connect residents to both their neighbors within the building as well as those of the broader St. Hugh community. Communal lounge spaces will be provided throughout the building such as a large community room in the basement, the common living room on the second floor, and the roof terrace on the third floor all of which provide informal meetings and social interactions and promote community among the residents. The existing parking area will be reconfigured to provide an outdoor seating and gathering area with raised planting beds for ease of use by the seniors. Bold use of color and signage will augment navigation and assist the seniors in wayfinding.
To ensure that this building remains a recognizable feature in the neighborhood, this project will retain and reuse many of the historic character-defining features of the building. The new third-floor addition will be contemporary, but respectful of the original building. Throughout its almost century of existence, the building has always served the community in whatever capacity was necessary, first as a worship site, then as a school. With this renovation, the building will continue its life of service and become a safe space for some of the neighborhood's most vulnerable residents to live.