A 283-unit affordable housing community, composed of two 10-story high-rise towers built in the 1970s; the complex contains 77 one-bedroom and 186 two-bedroom apartments. The two towers are connected at the ground floor and sited atop a hill with expansive views of the City of Salem and its harbor beyond.
Initially, the intent of the modernization was to focus on upgrading the unit interior, including aging mechanical systems. During the initial review, extensive exterior masonry cracking was determined to be due to the 1970s construction which allowed the façade to be constructed without relieving angles (typically provided on every other floor). Exploratory masonry demolition revealed that welded stone anchors were deteriorating, and the exterior sheathing had absorbed moisture and was partially delaminated.
The project focus quickly shifted to the demolition of the exterior façade and recladding with a lighter material. This provided the opportunity to improve the thermal performance of the exterior envelope with continuous insulation to reduce energy usage. The new exterior includes new structural insulated sheathing panels, composite metal panels, thin brick at the lower levels, new energy-efficient windows, and TPO roofs with rigid insulation are present in both towers. Exterior PV Panels are incorporated into the facade.
