FROM THE AIA:
This supportive housing for formerly chronically homeless individuals replaces a former parking lot and freeway off-ramp with a high density, transit oriented, and healthy living alternative. Filtered ventilation, low emitting materials, ample daylight and views combine to aid the residents, many with mental and physical disabilities. Energy costs for the residents and non-profit owner are minimized by a combination of high efficiency lighting and hydronic heating, a continuously insulated rain-screen building envelope and a roof top solar canopy with both hot water and photovoltaic panels. Water is carefully managed by a vegetated roof, smart irrigation, a courtyard storm water tank and reclaimed water piping.
JURY COMMENTS:
The jury recognized the complexity and difficulty in delivering high-density, transitional housing on a challenging site next to a freeway off-ramp and still making it comfortable, affordable, and well-designed. This project achieved high performance on a very small budget. Innovative, passive design strategies included bringing clean, filtered fresh air from the roof.
BY THE NUMBERS:
- Estimated percent of occupants using public transit, cycling or walking: 90%
- Daylighting at levels that allow lights to be off during daylight hours: 96%
- Lighting Power Density: 1 watts/sf
- Views to the Outdoors: 96%
- Percent reduction of regulated potable water: 28%
- Total EUI predicted (kBtu/sf/yr): 56
- Net EUI predicted (kBtu/sf/yr): 24
- Percent reduction from National Median EUI for Building Type (predicted): 57%
