How We Created Apartments in a Historic School

St. Vincent’s Apartments

Location: Newport News, Virginia // Size: 39,000 SF // Completion Date: August 2025

A once-vacant Catholic school has been reimagined into a collection of distinctive apartments, balancing respect for history with the needs of modern living. Working within the original footprint, each unit was carefully designed to make the most of existing proportions—tall windows, generous ceiling heights, and long corridors became defining features that shaped unique, livable spaces.

Historic materials guided the design approach. Exposed brick walls, stained concrete floors, wood trim, and plaster finishes were restored and left visible wherever possible, creating a warm, textured palette that connects each apartment to the building’s past.

Restoring key architectural elements— arched stone entryways, ornate plaster ceilings, and masonry detailing throughout—preserved the school’s original character while reimagining it for contemporary life. The result is a community of apartments that feel both historic and modern, grounded in craftsmanship and filled with light.