New Haven’s Ninth Square Historic District is a four-block area which contains an extraordinary number of existing turn-of-the-century commercial and residential structures. During a century of neglect the buildings had been abandoned and become quite deteriorated. In order to preserve this great historic resource and to revitalize this blighted neighborhood, the owner engaged Smith Edwards Architects.

Thirteen of the historic structures were given complete exterior restorations which returned them to their original appearance. These buildings were provided with retail space located on their ground floors, and the upper floors were renovated to provide one hundred fifty-one new units of housing comprised of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. An historic carriage house was converted into a social space for the community, and “vest-pocket” parks and courtyards provide a pedestrian link between the various buildings in the project.

This project was awarded the 1995 Urban Design Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects, the 1995 Design Award from AIA Connecticut, and the 1995 Preservation Award from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Ninth Square
New Haven, Connecticut
Ninth Square Project Limited Partnership
Completed 1995