Projects + Residential + Residenza Ortona

After the success of Residenza Italia, the not-for-profit apartment building completed for the Italian Seniors Project (ISP) in 2011, Nicholson Sheffield Architects was again hired to design the second not-for-profit apartment building for ISP: Residenza Ortona. Located across from Residenza Italia, on the north side of Hamilton Road, this 60-unit apartment building is open to tenants of all ages, with a particular focus on housing veterans and tenants with special needs. 14 of the 60 apartments are fully barrier-free, with an additional five apartments designed to be adapted to fully barrier-free if needed. 10 apartments have been reserved for veterans and the building also includes a veterans’ common area. One of the requests of the Italian Seniors Project was that the building be designed with a strong focus on fostering community. The building contains two large indoor common areas and a large common kitchen. The building has 2 common outdoor patios and ample outdoor amenity space. Built on a sloped site, the building has barrier-free accessible entrances on three sides, and all indoor and outdoor common areas are fully accessible. All the corridors and stairwells throughout the building have significant glazing to improve wayfinding, and to provide natural light and views to the surrounding landscape.