13th Street Sanctuary employs a new, organized “Co-Living” is a new model that responds to increased debt, high housing costs, and a desire to offset expenses. Cost-effective and flexible, it allows tenants to rent sleeping rooms in larger-scale units. Unlike traditional apartments, co-living uses individual leases instead of a master lease; shared kitchens, living rooms, and common areas provide community, while private bedrooms and bathrooms offer a degree of independence.

The structurally complex challenge of accommodating this new type of residential uses in a grand but damaged worship space required subtle insertions that meet the demands of shared living while adhering to the city’s standards for retaining significant architectural defining features.

The project balances a desire to retain significant architectural features with the need to introduce residential uses into a monumentally scaled assembly space. The technically challenging re-use of the structure required introduction of new openings into the heavy masonry exterior while paying homage to the existing decor. The result is a striking combination of old and new elements including a suspended stairway within the existing church tower.