had housed some of Providence ’ s early families , welcomed brandnew babies and comforted older residents living out their final years .
The property has “ big , beautiful rooms ,” says Mark Van Noppen , president of the Armory Management Company . “ If you tried to make little rooms out of it , you would wreck it .”
Architect Jack Ryan proposed eight two-bedroom apartments inside the restored rowhomes , and four two-bedroom units in a new addition built in the rear of the parcel . Construction began in late 2020 and ended last summer .
Each unit is unique . During demolition , Ryan and the team uncovered gorgeous period details like pocket doors and plaster moldings and rosettes hidden by questionable construction projects done over the years . Cutting a hole into a closet ’ s ceiling revealed an archway that spanned what was once the hospital ’ s nursery .
In an old operating suite on the top floor , clad in floor-to-ceiling tile , construction workers unveiled a copper-clad window and overhead skylights . It took a week to strip the paint from the copper and restore its original luster . It now serves as a lucky tenant ’ s spacious kitchen window .
Ryan looked to the original building for inspiration when designing the addition . He chose terracotta for the exterior , paying homage to the bricks used in the rowhouses . Cleverly angled bay windows are done in aluminum , mirroring the painted tin window bays on the original building .
“ They ’ re speaking to each other , but not trying to imitate each other ,” Ryan says .
What the addition lacks in historic detail is more than made up for in clever , streamlined designs like south-facing , floor-to-ceiling bay windows in the living areas and cozy reading nook windows in the bedrooms .
Ryan took inspiration from the site ’ s unique shape and configuration , using the opportunity to create an addition that ’ s outside the standard rectangular box .
“ We ’ re happy that we made it not only fit architecturally with the neighborhood , but also fit with the site and the parameters of the site ,” Ryan says . “ This building couldn ’ t exist anywhere else . We wouldn ’ t put this building across the street . It belongs here . It ’ s grounded here .”
The project hewed closely to the historical standards of the U . S . Department of the Interior / National Park Service — so much so , in fact , that the service used it as a best practices example of designing a new addition for a historic structure during a recent training seminar .
And , of course , the project also earned a silver 2023 Rhode Island Monthly Design Award for its innovative design and preservation efforts . Bravo !
All units have modern kitchens and in-unit laundry , with most ranging in size from 1,300 to 1,500 square feet . The building has off-street parking and an elevator — a rarity among the city ’ s historic apartment buildings and a remnant from its days as a nursing home . As of early December , most units have been leased .
Even with his preservation-forward sensibilities , Ryan is unsure as to what side of the building he ’ d choose , given the choice : the historic , brick-clad beauty or the streamlined , modern stunner .
“ People always ask Mark and I , ‘ What side would you pick ?’ ” he says . “ Do you want the cool modern apartment or do you want the cool historic details ? That ’ s a tough one . I don ’ t know . I ’ m kind of torn — I like them both .” 🆁
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