Located in Ithaca New York, Tompkins Community
Action is a sterling leader in assisting those in
need throughout Tompkins County, New York.
The “Magnolia House,” a residency for women in
recovery is the latest accomplishment for TCA.
Travis Price Architects won the commission
by stressing a strong sense of modern design,
sustainable practices, and most importantly a
keen understanding of the occupants needs.
he project on a small lot abutting the men’s shelter,
Chartwell House, had numerous constraints. The
design accommodates 14 living units, administrative
services, classrooms and a commercial teaching
kitchen. Most of the construction cost and land
acquisition was funded by the government. TCA’s leadership
under Lee Dillon and Danielle Harrington were instrumental in
achieving this highly touted success. As the building bids came in
under budget, the additional funds were readily allocated to add
solar hot water heating, high efficiency LED lighting, and a first class
educational commercial kitchen. Travis Price Architects with project
architect Luciana Lessa took great pride in not only achieving the full
requirements on a tight budget, highlighting energy self-sufficiency,
but also for adding an aesthetic to the project that sets a high
standard of modernism for shelter housing.
T
Magnolia House is a three story multi-family residential building that
serves single women with their children who are homeless and in
recovery from drug and/or alcohol abuse. The project consists of
14 enhanced studio units of permanent housing. The ground level
has multiple common spaces that provide the residents on site
supportive services that focus on building life skills (i.e. common living
room, dining room, kitchen/cooking classroom, training classroom
and a children’s playroom as well as staff facilities and 2 residential
units.) The two floors above are solely residential with 6 units per
floor. Each floor also has a common laundry room and sitting area.
An outdoor patio/entrance functions as a central core joining the
Magnolia House with the existing Chartwell House. The site design
is a longitudinal lot facing east and west. The project uses passive
solar access and control wherever possible with its staggered walls
and rear garden access.The longitudinal design maximizes the square
footage for the Residential use as well as common outdoor areas.
Besides designing for a friendly urban pedestrian experience, all
efforts were made to make the space compatible with comfortable
and pleasant living. Natural light and materials, friendly common
spaces with gardens, educational facilities, and comfortable rooms
are the primary design goals.
When last visited, Travis Price was approached by one of the new
residents who ecstatically proclaimed she loved the project so
much that she was planning on making a Gingerbread model of
the building. This couldn’t have been a more enjoyable Christmas
present for 2014!
Travis L Price III, FAIA | Travis Price Architects
1028 33rd St NW, Ste 320, Washington, DC 20007
202.965.7000 | www.TravisPriceArchitects.com
www.Spiritof Place-Design.com | www.Archaeologyof Tomorrow.com
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