Adaptive reuse is at its best, arguably, when it not only transforms an underused architectural gem into a vital community asset, but also when it supports people in dire need.
This is the case in Sacramento, Calif., with the conversion and revitalization of a pair of hotels built in the 1910s into Saint Clare at Capitol Park, a new supportive housing residence for individuals transitioning from homelessness that was conceived by Mercy Housing, a California-based developer and operator of non-profit housing.
part of its strategy to preserve important historic elements.
The $76 million adaptive reuse undertaking leverages funds from a variety of sources, including Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits, California Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and a California Department of Housing and Community Development program called “No Place Like Home”. The project highlights the State of California and the City of Sacramento’s investment in housing strategies. Significantly, the project demonstrates how effective adaptive reuse can transform an underutilized existing building into deeply needed housing and, at the same time, transform the lives of formerly homeless people and the community at-large. This type of project is needed in cities around the country and, in particular, in California’s capital city; Sacramento Steps Forward reported that in 2022, 9,278 people in the city experienced homelessness—an increase of 67 percent over the preceding three years.
Prominent Location, Continuous Legacy
Located across from the State Capitol, Saint Clare at Capitol Park consolidates two interconnected hotels from 1911 and 1912 in Sacramento’s downtown core into a single structure. With 2,600 square feet of first-floor commercial space and 134 upper-floor studio apartments, each equipped with a kitchenette and bathroom, the building helps people without a home secure a comfortable residence. During the past century-plus, the complex at the corner of Ninth and L streets has housed several operations, including a store and warehouse, hotels, a college and a homeless shelter.
As the architect for the multi-year project, Page & Turnbull’s architecture and historic-preservation teams supported the adaptive reuse resulting in Saint Clare at Capitol Park and the owner’s goal to leverage state low-income housing tax credits and federal historic tax credits to help finance this critically needed housing project.
as well as cooking systems.
By merging the preservation of key historic architectural elements with structural, mechanical and interior updates, the design team’s adaptive reuse of the Capitol Park Hotel ensured the continued legacy of the hotel complex’s varied past. The sensitive reinvention also set the stage for Saint Clare at Capitol Park’s present-day use and its ability to remain a vital downtown community touchstone long into the future.
Robust Structures, Efficient Operations
One of the primary challenges for Page & Turnbull’s team was the need for critical seismic upgrades to stabilize the renovated nine-floor building, solidifying the structural soundness of the building in the event of earthquakes. The design team also restored the hotel’s distinctive, yet deteriorating, brick façades and recognizable dark green awnings; incorporated energy-efficient applications, such as updated windows and insulated roofing; and recycled as much construction waste as possible. To meet California’s decarbonization goals, the building is all electric for heating and cooling, as well as cooking systems. The addition of air conditioning provides protection to the residents from future heat- related environmental impacts.
Inside, a primary focus of the renovation and adaptive reuse of the building’s common and private areas involved reducing energy consumption through ENERGY STAR-rated laundry and kitchen appliances, as well as energy-efficient LED lighting.
The design team also restored and preserved important historic elements, reinvigorating key architectural features: the lobby’s original black-and-white hexagonal mosaic tile floor, interior corridors, common area railings and two of the original historic staircases.
Community Connection, Coordinated Support
Spacious community rooms and gathering areas for individuals and groups further connectivity among the building’s residents. Additional amenities contribute to personal wellbeing, such as in-building laundry facilities, caseworker offices and onsite bicycle storage. Ground-floor retailers add another, welcomed dimension to the hotel’s neighborhood.
In this way, Saint Clare at Capitol Park offers a new community “where the formerly unhoused will find not just shelter, but the beginnings of a hopeful tomorrow,” according to Rich Ciraulo, regional director of Real Estate Development for the Sacramento office of Mercy Housing California. In his public comments, Ciraulo told the Sacramento City Express that all citizens of the city and state can now take pride in the beautiful, historic building’s restoration and preservation in the heart of the city’s downtown.
Since the transformational project’s completion late last year, Saint Clare at Capitol Park has been a key example of how projects are rejuvenating downtown Sacramento. It also serves as a winning model for the potential of adaptive reuse to help reduce homelessness, gaining recognition, including the Sacramento Business Journal’s honors for its 2023 Real Estate Project of the Year Award. Accepting the business publication’s 2023 citation, Mercy Housing California’s Vice President of Operations Lilli Lew-Hailer remarked that the beautifully restored historic building is a great contribution to Sacramento’s urban core, noting that the success of the residence showed what is possible when a community decides to treat homelessness as a problem that can be solved.
As is often the case, the successful adaptive reuse of a historic building involves the coordinated input, insight and efforts of designers, architects, contractors, developers, municipal leaders and community stakeholders. In addition to the multidisciplinary design team, credit for the success of the Saint Clare at Capitol Park’s revitalization as a solution to transitioning people from homelessness is shared by the Sacramento Housing Redevelopment Agency and the County of Sacramento.
PHOTOS: Bruce Damonte, courtesy Page & Turnbull, unless otherwise noted
Retrofit Team
Ownership/Client: Mercy Housing California
Architect: Page & Turnbull
General Contractor: Midstate Construction
Structural Engineer: Miyamoto International Inc.
MEP Engineer: Interface Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer: Raney Geotechnical Inc.
Code Consultant (Fire): Holmes Fire
Green Point Consultant: Partner Energy
Materials
Epoxy Reinforcement at Unreinforced Masonry Walls and Cracked Heavy Timber Columns and Beams: ET-HP Epoxy Adhesive from Simpson Strong-Tie
Overhead Coiling Doors: Cookson
Interior Aluminum Door Frames: Doormerica
Exterior Wood Windows: Sierra Pacific Windows
Vertical Blinds: Levelor
Residential Premanufactured Casework: Lanz Cabinets
Carpet: Aladdin Commercial
Vinyl Sheet Flooring: StrataMax from Armstrong Flooring
Acoustic Floor Underlayment: AccuSound from Mohawk Group
Decorative Lighting Pendants: Silenzio from Luce Plan
Ceiling-mounted Kitchen Lighting: SlimSurface from Lightolier
Linear Pendants: Lightolier
Roof System: TPO Membrane and EnergyGuard Polyisocyanurate Insulation from GAF and DensDeck Roof Board from Georgia-Pacific Building Products
Brick Masonry Sealer: Micro-Seal from Rain Guard Pro
Interior and Exterior Paint: Sherwin-Williams
