The original black granite and bronze facade of these 1950s mirror-image buildings was removed nearly 20 years ago, and a paneled wood front and lampposts with traditional detailing were installed, all of which deteriorated. We were commissioned to design new facades, and during the process of a comprehensive entry design, we recommended addressing accessibility. The existing facade was replaced with crisply detailed limestone panels with cast-bronze decorative banding, a new bronze storefront, new wall-mounted lighting and new entry canopies; more in keeping with, but enhancing the building’s post-war vocabulary. New entry ramps with decorative bronze handrails and energy efficient pathway lighting accommodate a broader range of residents, including those with strollers.

‘ALL PHOTOS BY PETER VITALE’