Chelsea Soldiers’ Home Community Living Center

Project Overview

• Six-story long-term senior care facility built in accordance with the U.S. Veterans’ Administration’s Small House Model Design Guide
• New construction followed by abatement and demolition in close proximity to an active hospital and on an active residential campus
• Targeting LEED Silver Net-Zero Ready standards and featuring geothermal wells, PV panels and high-performance façade and M/E/P systems

To achieve Chelsea Soldiers’ Home’s modern vision for veteran care and services, a new 247,000 sq. ft., 154-bed Community Living Center is being constructed adjacent to the Quigley Building––a fully operational hospital originally constructed in 1949––and built in accordance with the U.S. Veterans’ Administration’s Small House Model Design Guide.

The new site posed a number of challenges which were addressed in an enabling phase, including the relocation of an existing generator and oxygen farm; installation of geothermal wells; and demolition of an existing water tower. Once complete, the construction of the Community Living Center began; the six-story concrete structure will feature two housing clusters of 14 residents per floor, situated in single-occupancy rooms surrounding a shared common area, dining space and kitchen. It will target a LEED Silver Net-zero Ready standard and feature sustainable elements including geothermal wells, photovoltaic panels, high-efficiency systems and a high-performance envelope. Due to the Community Living Center’s close proximity to the sensitive and operational Quigley Building, extensive coordination and mitigation measures are being managed to keep patients, staff and visitors safe and undisturbed during all phases of construction.

The existing St. Michael the Archangel Chapel will receive selective façade repairs and remain operational throughout the multi-phased campus construction. Careful demolition of a connector between the Chapel and the Quigley Building will be required prior to the full abatement and demolition of the hospital. The former site of the Quiqley Building will create new greenspace and a site entrance to the facility.