WOMEN VETERANS’ HOUSING

Location: Newark, New Jersey
Type: Mixed Use - Residential/Martial Arts Gym, Ground Up
Status: Schematic Design
Size: 25,000 SF
Client: Clinton Valley Development Group, Inc.
Team: Miroslava Brooks, Daniel Markiewicz, Parsa Khalili

Clinton Valley Development Group, Inc. approached FORMA to envision a new project for South Central Newark that would include high-quality transitional housing for female veterans and a new martial arts facility. Located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Newark, these programs would act as a new beacon for the area which is currently undergoing a series of vital redevelopments. 

The project’s design responded to the activity and sensitivity of the programs put forth by the Clinton Valley Development Group, Inc. The colorful array of custom metal paneling on the exterior façade of the building not only reflects the tempo of the new Black Belt Academy located on the first floor, but also acts as a protective “shell” for the building’s female residents on the upper levels.  The large colorful graphics also mirror the numerous painted murals that pepper the surrounding neighborhood with a rich history of large-scale public art. This idea of a “hard shell” exterior and a “soft-inviting” interior was especially critical for the women veteran residents on the second and third levels, who must deal with a range of post-combat issues, both physical and mental.   Using a muted palette of wood paneling, individual rooms and common spaces are outfitted with modest built-in elements that allow residents to temporarily make themselves at home.