Allegheny Hills Retirement Residence is the renovation of a building originally developed under the HUD 202 program in the 1980s. The project is a favorite of ours because of the huge impact it has had on the lives of the building residents.
The building’s common spaces and units needed to be updated, including the addition of ADA compliant units. The building systems, windows and roof all needed to be replaced. And the renovation project, developed under the PHFA preservation program, had to occur in an occupied building requiring significant coordination of all parties involved.
Renovations were carried out in vertical sections, allowing installation of new systems with redundant systems in place until the switchover could occur. Natural light was brought into the community room and dining hall by excavating the rear and adding a greenhouse with skylights and interior windows. Finishes were updated throughout the building, and fresh air was supplied to each unit through trickle ventilators. The 79-unit project, completed in 2009, has a newly insulated shell and roof, energy efficient windows, trickle ventilators, and new lighting and mechanical systems. The interiors and furniture selection were done by Thoughtful Balance.