Two Thriven Design Projects Honored With 2023 Smart Growth Awards

Barclay Place

Barclay Place is the very first project in NJ developed though NJHMFA’s new Hospital Partnership Subsidy program, which recognizes innovative collaborations between developers and healthcare institutions. Barclay Place brings together Paterson’s New Jersey Community Development Corporation and St. Joseph’s Health to create a new type of supportive and affordable housing that specifically sets out to reduce frequent hospitalization and emergency room visits by improving access to preventative healthcare services.

“It was exciting to see how the addition of an institutional health-care partner influenced the dynamics of this project,” Stephen L. Schoch, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Principal at Thriven Design, said. “While it meant another key stakeholder to coordinate with, St. Joseph’s brought fresh energy to the design discussions – both wanting to understand the housing elements they were unfamiliar with, as well as stretching the entire team in creating space and programming for off-campus wellness services that will benefit both the residents and the community at large.”

The five-story structure combines 46 units of affordable housing, 10 units of supportive housing, and a 3,000 SF ground-floor healthcare facility operated by St. Joseph’s Health. This ‘satellite’ health center, located one block away from the main hospital, serves the needs of residents on the upper floors as well as members of the surrounding community. It is designed to provide social, health, wellness, and counseling services. Thriven Design provided architecture, engineering, and interior design services for Barclay Place Apartments, and partnered with Langan who provided civil engineering.

One Thompson Ave

One Thompson Avenue is an 100% affordable, transit-oriented community that is focused on providing stable and supportive housing to the veteran population. Project developer Pennrose partnered with Morris County Government Veterans Services and Community Hope to help connect veterans to this housing opportunity.

Thriven Design provided architectural services for the 89,000 SF development, which contains 70 one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, as well as a cybercafe, fitness center, parking, and professionally landscaped grounds. Thirty-five (35) units at One Thompson Avenue are reserved for veterans, and several apartments are designed for those with physical disabilities and hearing/vision loss. The community was also designed to provide a healthy living environment for its residents and meets the Enterprise Green Communities standards.

“’Much-needed affordable housing’ is something we speak of a lot in our line of work,” said Keith Peacock, AIA, Principal at Thriven Design. “With One Thompson Avenue, that need was unbelievably critical. There were only five non-age restricted rental units in town before this project, in a town where the median household income for residents is only about $20,000 a year. That’s less than half of the annual income of households in the surrounding county. Projects like One Thompson are a reminder of why we do this, the impact we can have, and the difference we can make.”