OVERVIEW

Landmark Square Senior Community is a 70-unit, 160,000 sq. ft. independent living condominium development designated for those 50 and older. Because large residential complexes are relatively rare in the Sheboygan community, Abacus Architects worked carefully to integrate the scale of the building into its neighborhood. The finished design strikes a balance between complementing the nearby commercial downtown area, as well as maintaining compatibility with adjacent residential streets.

Prominent gables of varying heights make a strong, immediate residential impression. The irregular insets of the façade and multi-colored shiplap siding add other home-like references and help to minimize the building’s mass. Private balconies are an upscale touch not typically found in senior communities, and larger residences on the upper floor also feature expansive views of Lake Michigan. Abacus developed a base finish package for the units with the condo association, which residents can upgrade according to their individual decorating tastes.

A key design element of Landmark Square is an underground tunnel that connects it to the Sheboygan Senior Community Nursing Home next door. The passageway makes it easy for condo owners to order meal, laundry and other services from the nursing home, or to be transferred there for short-term medical care.

Landmark Square has a unique story because a few months before construction was completed, a fire destroyed it. The building had to be constructed twice, finally being finished in the spring of 2008, nearly three years after the design process began. The rebuild did allow for the inclusion of a general store and a fitness center to add value to the facility. Total project cost was $13.25 million ($83/sq. ft.).

“We put a lot of effort into bringing a residential flavor into the building and making it feel fitting for the neighborhood.” –Robert Heimerl, Design Architect