In another long-anticipated step in the fulfillment of the organization's mission, The Villages at Samaritan House provide affordable housing for HIV-positive individuals, allowing them to live in an apartment with their families. The renovation of an existing building and the construction of a new one provided 66 apartment units. New offices, conference rooms, private and group counseling areas, green areas, and playgrounds are just a few of the many amenities of this development.
Special Design Features
The exterior of the building has an urban loft feel created through the use of red brick, metal awnings, large windows, projecting balconies, and a flat roof. Each apartment unit ranges from 825 square feet to 1,389 square feet, with large windows (providing ample daylight), a balcony, a washer/dryer, one or two bathrooms (depending on the unit), full kitchens, a dining area and pantry, and Internet capability.
Design/Construction Challenge
Money was the most prevalent challenge for this project; in fact, the design began before the land was purchased, and funding was not secured until months after the design had begun. Once the design and budget were finalized, rising construction costs due to Hurricane Katrina caused numerous trips back to the drawing board to re-evaluate the design to stay within the limited budget.