Williams Terrace Senior Housing
Williams Terrace Senior Housing provides affordable housing for seniors in downtown Charleston. The building includes 41 ADA-accessible units, ground-floor parking, a screened porch, and a rooftop community room with a terrace.
Affordable, Flood-Resilient Senior Housing in Charleston
Built for the Housing Authority of the City of Charleston, this long-awaited community revitalization project stands near the harbor on a site destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. In the aftermath, the city master-planned the area as an urban park. Market-rate developments were integrated while reserving space for much-needed affordable housing. Designed for durability in a high-velocity flood zone, Williams Terrace provides safe, resilient housing for Charleston’s senior residents.
To complement Charleston’s historic fabric, the design divides the building into two smaller volumes around a central courtyard. Traditional “piazzas” serve as open-air corridors and additional living spaces — critical for senior well-being. Movable wood and metal screens provide shade and enhance the evolving façade, while limewash-covered brick reinforces the timeless aesthetic.
Community Engagement and Charleston’s Architectural Legacy
Extensive community input shaped the design, with feedback from neighborhood associations, preservation groups, and the Charleston Board of Architectural Review. The final plan balances affordability with Charleston’s rich architectural character, ensuring public spaces foster interaction between residents and the broader community.
Designed for resilience and community connection, Williams Terrace is a model for flood-conscious, affordable housing in Charleston’s historic district.
In association with David Baker Architects
Awarded:
- AIA/HUD Secretary’s Housing and Community Design Award, Excellence in Affordable Housing Design
- AIA Charleston Design Award, Jury Citation, Commercial New Construction & Substantial Renovation
Learn More:
- Can Closed Colleges Solve the Senior Housing Crisis?
- Senior Living Design Strategies That Improve Affordability
- Fund Senior Living Renovations in SC, NC, GA with Medicaid FRV
- Montessori Principles in Memory Care
- or, see more of our senior living designs