JT Redevelopment Project

2017 FOREVER GREEN AWARDS by USGBC Central Pennsylvania

Award:  HONORABLE MENTION – SENIOR LIVING

The JT Redevelopment Project is the complete renovation of the Harrisburg Housing Authority’s 13-story Jackson Tower senior multi-family high-rise apartment building. Consisting of the total renovation of the existing building both inside and out., the project includes 159 one bedroom apartments, of which 22 are ADA-compliant, fully accessible units, and 9 studio style apartments.

A new two-story tall entrance was added to the building to provide an open feeling in the building, which otherwise, has very low floor-to-floor heights. A new exterior insulation finish system was placed over the existing masonry building façade to provide a dramatic new aesthetic for the building and to provide much needed insulation. New Energy Star windows also contribute to the energy retrofit of the building envelope. The exterior renovation also features a new covered portico and a securely fenced patio area with a landscaped border.

The first floor holds common spaces for the tenants, including a conversation room, game room, exercise room, library, a large multi-purpose room with kitchen, and a medical suite. Half of the second floor area contains office space occupied by the building manager’s office and additional HHA administrative offices. The entire building was brought up to accessibility standards, including the addition of a new fully accessible elevator to complement the existing two smaller elevators. The apartments are outfitted with durable HUD severe use kitchen cabinets with solid surface countertops, bathrooms with walk-in showers and bedrooms with walk-in closets.

KD3 provided interior design services for the entire building, bringing a cohesive exterior/interior incorporation of design style. KD3 was challenged to create market-rate style in the common spaces with a frugal budget. Lower-budget standard commercial products were sourced, selected and coordinated for optimum visual effect. Light field colors with warm accents and dark wood-look laminate column covers bring a sense of contrast and brightness to the public spaces while an accent of orange color is a cheerful addition to the furniture and walls of the more casual multi-purpose room and game room. Economy framed artwork, donated paintings and painted wall supergraphics were a resourceful way to provide durable ornamental color, texture and pattern to the walls.