Wayland Square Apartments Providence, RI
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Our firm was commissioned by a private developer who had purchased a small, 4,500 square foot city lot that came with a schematic design by another architect. Our task was to improve upon the initial design, developing it to meet the owner’s investment goals and secure approval from the city. The resulting design is a 5-story modern building featuring 23 residential units and 1 commercial unit on the ground level. The basement houses tenant storage, shared laundry and the building’s utility systems.
The project posed several significant challenges, starting with the small lot size and the space occupied by an electrical transformer. The utility company required the transformer to be placed in the front yard—an area highly valuable for residential use—while imposing strict restrictions that prohibited any structures from overhanging it. Additionally, to enhance privacy for the first-floor occupants, the owner requested raising the first floor 42 inches above street level. This adjustment required additional circulation space, including more stairs and the careful alignment of three staircases to match their respective levels in accordance with the site’s slope.
The project posed several significant challenges, starting with the small lot size and the space occupied by an electrical transformer. The utility company required the transformer to be placed in the front yard—an area highly valuable for residential use—while imposing strict restrictions that prohibited any structures from overhanging it. Additionally, to enhance privacy for the first-floor occupants, the owner requested raising the first floor 42 inches above street level. This adjustment required additional circulation space, including more stairs and the careful alignment of three staircases to match their respective levels in accordance with the site’s slope.