Sister Lillian Murphy Community

"The goals of the project were met by creating a healthy, dynamic residential community that establishes a sense of place by complementing and integrating into the existing neighborhood. The design team broke down the scale of the building to create smaller distinguishable communities within the block that facilitate the meeting of neighbors and building of community.

The massing strategy breaks open perimeter block typology into four articulated wings connected by outdoor circulation and multilevel landscapes. Open-air bridge connections provide a porosity between building wings that allow residents within the courtyards to look out and have visual connection to their surrounding neighborhood. Each building wing façade is unique, responding to the character of its street. The ground floor is activated with community serving spaces whose program directly responds to the neighborhood parks they front, enhancing the streetscape and amplifying community connections. Residential stoops enliven the pedestrian Mews and fourth façade.

The corner stair tower acts as a beacon at the terminus of an urban view corridor, emanating warm light in the evening through its playful window pattern. Its dynamic, airy interior and stunning views welcome residents to use the stairs, encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle.

Outdoor spaces offer a range of seating, lush landscaping, and healthy connections to the resident community. The community room spills out into the ground-floor courtyard, extending its program space and linking it to the outdoors. Open-air corridors provide natural ventilation and sunlight, as well as visual connection to the landscape and out to the surrounding neighborhood."