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RNL was selected to provide the design for the adaptive re-use of the existing historic Mount St. Gertrude Academy as a retirement community. This Richardsonian-style building, which was gutted by fire in 1980, is the focus of the campus and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The plan for the adaptive re-use of this facility called for the renovation and reconstruction of the Academy as a “service- enriched retirement community”. The new facility provides 38 senior apartments and seven assisted living units. While each apartment is self-sufficient, the facility has several public areas including a lobby, kitchen, recreation areas, dining facilities, meeting rooms and administrative offices.

The redesign of this historic facility presented many challenges to the design team. In addition to the obvious historic issues, the design team faced zoning and height ordinances, as well as a steeply sloping site. The scope of the project also included full site redevelopment with expanded parking, walkways, barbecue pits, and landscaped gardens.