Phillips Win Architecture

Design Approach

Lesley Towers, originally constructed in the 1960s, is a high-rise apartment building providing affordable housing for seniors. This rehab project, completed in 2017, essentially involved the construction of a high-rise within a high-rise. Each floor was completely gutted and refitted with new apartment layouts and finishes without disturbing the exterior curtain wall. A full seismic upgrade involved the construction of new reinforced concrete shear walls at each floor and excavating under the building for new foundations. The first floor was redesigned to create warm and inviting community spaces, offices and conference room, dining room, and a full commercial kitchen. New patios and trellises around the building create usable outdoor areas of a human scale and provide a connection to a neighboring park and a welcoming sequence of entry from the street.