Accessible Unit Conversion
Watertown Housing Authority

Watertown, MA

[ THE CHALLENGE ]

The original four-flat brick building required substantial modifications to create two fully accessible units on the ground floor. The challenge involved redesigning the interior layout and integrating exterior additions to facilitate accessible kitchens, bathrooms, and an additional bedroom for two of the units.

 

[ THE REPSONSE ]

To address these challenges, the building underwent extensive renovations. The interior layout was reconfigured to establish a two-bedroom and a three-bedroom unit, both featuring robust materials such as ceramic and VCT flooring, solid surface and laminate counters, and cabinets designed for ‘extreme construction’. The exterior additions utilized durable materials like fiber cement panels, fiberglass doors, and vinyl windows.

Moreover, the site was revamped to introduce accessible front and back entrances, along with the incorporation of designated accessible parking spaces. Landscape modifications were made, introducing new plantings and allocating an area specifically for the tenants’ trash and recycling containers.