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Joy² Design, Inc.
  • Practice
    • Values
    • People
    • History
  • Projects
  • News
  • Contact
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Projects

Westminster Court


Client

Urban Edge & WCA Tenants Association

Location

Roxbury, MA

Project Type

Mission Based, Residential

Size

72,000 SF

Collaborators

GC: NEI
Exterior Envelope Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
MEP Engineering: Wozny Barbar & Associates

Project Team

Joy Street Design, Inc.

Photo Credit

Joel Peace Howe

Tags

Renovation, Multi-family residential, Historic restoration, Occupied Rehab

The extensive renovation at WCA hit some architectural high notes for us at JSD in terms of the development’s importance to the architectural history of Roxbury, the technical demands of the proposed renovation, and because of the important work of preserving 70 units of housing in this tenant-owned affordable development.

The development was designed by Carl Koch, an American architect of the mid-century modern era, and developer of pre-fab housing and the Techcrete Building System. WCA was designed as a multi-family residential pilot – Koch’s first such development – which sits high on the puddingstone of Roxbury. The concrete plank and panel system suffered air and water infiltration over the decades. The exterior skin was completely removed to the studs and rebuilt from the exterior, keeping tenants in place throughout the renovation. New framing, insulation, windows, and ventilation system improved indoor air quality and energy efficiency. The multi-level site received necessary upgrades in the form of brick paver inlaid designs, resurfacing of concrete walkways, restoration and painting of handrails, new and historically contextual site furnishings, traditional mid-century paint colors, and improved and more cohesive signage and wayfinding.

Related

  • Bow Linden

    Somerville, MA

  • Washington Square Residence

    Lynn, MA

  • Abby’s House

    Worcester, MA

  • Spindrift Elderly Housing

    Nahant, MA

Architecture for the Common Good

Joy Squared Design, Inc.
121 East Berkeley St. Fl 3
Boston, MA 02118

617-209-9631
info@joysquared.design

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