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Urban Senior Living with Integrated Social Spaces

Urban Senior Living with Integrated Social Spaces
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Located in Jackson Heights, Queens, Crossroads Senior Housing addresses the evolving needs of an aging population through a multifamily residential development focused on accessibility, flexibility, and community engagement. The project integrates private living units with shared communal spaces, fostering a supportive environment within a dense urban context.
5 key facts about this project
01
Developed specifically for senior residents' needs.
02
Includes shared amenities for community engagement.
03
Offers a variety of adaptable living arrangements.
04
Features accessible circulation with wide corridors.
05
Combines brick with green metal cladding for aesthetics.

Crossroads Senior Housing is located at the intersection of Baxter Avenue and Elmhurst Avenue in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. Developed as a multifamily residential building for senior residents, the project responds to the urban character of its surroundings while prioritizing accessibility, community interaction, and adaptable living arrangements. The design supports aging in place through spatial strategies that promote independence, safety, and social connectivity.

Community integration and spatial flexibility
The layout includes shared amenities such as a social lobby, fitness center, and rooftop garden, positioned to facilitate daily encounters and collective engagement. A variety of unit types accommodates different levels of independence, from single-room to multi-bedroom configurations. Circulation throughout the building is designed with accessibility in mind, featuring wide corridors, elevators, and clear wayfinding. Large windows provide natural illumination and maintain visual connections to outdoor green spaces, enhancing comfort and well-being.

Architectural expression and material strategy
The building’s material palette draws from both contemporary and contextual references, combining brick, metal cladding, glass, and wood. Brick contributes to structural durability and ties the building to the neighborhood’s vernacular, while green metal cladding introduces a modern visual element. Landscaped courtyards and communal gardens are embedded within the site to extend living spaces outdoors, offering residents opportunities for informal gathering, recreation, and engagement with nature.

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The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

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Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

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