Red Clover Commons Phase 1

View Project Details
Clients Location

Brattleboro, VT

Size

80,000 sf

Category Sustainability Features
  • •Geothermal heating & cooling

  • •PV solar panels

  • •Low flow water fixtures

Energy Use Itensity

Baseline: 50.00
Target: 45.00
Predicted: 37.50

Awards
  • AIA VT Excellence in Architectural Design – Peers’ Choice Award

Consultants Photographers
  • Gary Hall

Red Clover Commons in Brattleboro, Vermont, built by Brattleboro Housing Partnerships and Evernorth, is an apartment complex for low income elderly or disabled members of the community.  This complex was a labor of love for all involved, as the apartments were designed partially in response to the flooding brought on by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011.  Irene caused immense damage to Melrose Terrace, another Brattleboro Housing Partnerships site, and while some of those units have now been repaired and reoccupied, the organization decided that a safer area was needed for its most vulnerable residents.

Creating a sense of community was imperative, so gbA placed open lounges on each floor of the complex.  Additionally, there is a larger gathering space on the first floor of the building, and an activity room for exercise programs and other events on the third floor.  The apartments themselves have spacious kitchens and bathrooms, as well as large windows, welcoming in lots of natural light.  The building is heated and cooled by a geothermal system which drastically reduces heating costs for the owner.  It also features railings along the corridor walls on all of the floors, as well as different colors and themes for each floor – to help orient residents.  Every aspect of this design was deliberated over with great care to ensure that the residents would have all of the necessary safety amenities while keeping the apartments feeling like homes.

In 2021 a Phase 2 building was added to the Red Clover Commons campus adding 18 new apartments.