Creating site improvements for a housing development in Philadelphia's Chinatown.

Chinatown North Housing, a development of 15 townhouses and 34 partially subsidized housing units is located above an active railline tunnel and bounded by the noisy streets and highways of center city Philadelphia. The site improvements and furnishings created a new central environment inspired by the character of the surrounding Chinatown community. Architectural details and accents evoke a true sense of place where visitors can have a sense of peace and quiet within a bustling urban environment.

Components of the site upgrade included a community center/courtyard, walking trails, central open space, new walkways and noise buffering landscaping. The layout dealt elegantly with a very restricted area in a busy part of Philadelphia's downtown.

The resulting upgrade proudly showcases what can be achieved when a community provides the inspiration for a project. Synterra Ltd.'s multicultural staff was responsible for the project planning. This multicultural perspective provided the essential cross-cultural insights and artistic sensitivity this project demanded.