Student Designers Present Vision for St. Margaret’s House Renovation
This May, students from the Williamsburg High School for Architecture and Design (WHAD) presented their final design proposals for the renovation of the lobby and an unused cafeteria space at St. Margaret’s House, a multicultural senior living facility located at 49 Fulton Street in the heart of the South Street Seaport.
The year-long mentorship program, running from September to May, was organized in partnership with CTA, whose mentors met bi-weekly with student teams to help develop their design thinking, architectural drawing skills, and presentation techniques. The project challenged students to reimagine real spaces with real-world constraints—transforming underutilized areas while addressing accessibility, sustainability, and the unique needs of a diverse senior population.
From the outset, the students faced several complex challenges: how to activate an unused cafeteria space, how to design for aging residents with varying mobility needs, and how to incorporate sustainable elements into an existing building. Final proposals included ideas such as:
A multi-use community space where chairs fold seamlessly into the floor
A raised garden entry to foster connection with nature
Flexible workspaces adaptable to a variety of programs and activities
Indoor green walls to improve air quality and provide biophilic benefits
The final reviews were judged by a panel of three, including the Executive Director of St. Margaret’s House, who provided thoughtful feedback on the feasibility and potential impact of the students’ ideas.
Throughout the mentoring period, team sizes ranged from two to five students, with approximately four returning participants—some of whom have been involved since we first began collaborating with WHAD three years ago. Many students shared that the experience had given them a new perspective on design and a deeper appreciation for the architectural profession.
CTA is proud to support the next generation of designers and is continually inspired by the innovation, sensitivity, and enthusiasm these students bring to every challenge.