The Felician Sisters campus in Enfield, Connecticut faced the challenge of evolving to meet contemporary needs while preserving its rich heritage and historic buildings. The existing campus required reimagining to incorporate affordable senior housing, create multi-generational spaces, and maintain the site’s spiritual and educational legacy, all while addressing environmental constraints and minimizing disruption to current residents and programs.

Through a collaborative process involving The Community Builders, Felician Sisters Inc., and Amenta Emma’s Community Studio, a comprehensive master plan was developed to transform the campus. The Phase 1 Supportive Senior Living development carefully integrates new affordable senior housing into the historic landscape, with buildings thoughtfully positioned to preserve the Old Parade Grounds and respect existing wetlands. The design creates a pedestrian-centric environment by relocating vehicular traffic to the perimeter, enabling the creation of peaceful green quads and walking paths that enhance residents’ daily experiences.

The reimagined campus serves multiple community needs while honoring the Felician Sisters’ legacy of service. The introduction of affordable senior housing addresses a critical community need while creating opportunities for multi-generational interaction between seniors, Montessori School students, and other campus users. The preservation of historic buildings and open spaces maintains the site’s cultural significance, while the new pedestrian-focused layout promotes an active, healthy lifestyle for residents. As the project moves forward with Phase 2’s multi-family housing feasibility study, the master plan continues to evolve, ensuring the campus will serve as a vibrant, inclusive community resource for generations to come.