The design of Gish Family Apartments both a celebration of, and response to the adjacent transit. Rather than seeking an outdoor balcony exemption, the design team took advantage of the mild local climate by creating protective, transparent balconies that deflect street noise and allow natural ventilation and sunshine. The result; apartments are quiet and balconies catch fresh breezes. This design solution celebrates the California indoor/outdoor lifestyle and proves that even on the most challenging of sites, even affordable housing projects can provide pleasant outdoor spaces for residents. 

Built on an urban brownfield site adjacent to a light-rail station, Gish increases the neighborhood density while providing transportation options to residents. The infill project includes a mixed-use commercial space which is leased by 7-Eleven and provides convenient shopping for the community, while the close proximity to public transportation provides the major benefit of transportation autonomy.

The 35 affordable apartments are reserved strictly for families earning less than one-half the median income in the area, and designed to ensure residents of all abilities can thrive.  An enhanced quality of life for the residents was a design imperative. Besides a facility-wide smoking ban and low-emission furniture, paints, and adhesives, noise pollution from the street and light-rail was also addressed.

Energy efficiency was critical and became the cohesive factor in the design: Two-by-six exterior stud walls allow for extra insulation; heat gain is minimized through smaller southerly windows; hallway configurations boost natural daylight and ventilation, and Energy-Star appliances are standard. The roof hosts a 30kw photovoltaic array that provides 30 percent of electricity used in common areas. High-efficiency heat pumps are used throughout, and a monitor in the community room displays the solar output. Gish is the only affordable housing development in the United States to receive both LEED for Homes and LEED NC Gold certification. It has also received  COTE Top Ten and was published internationally, including in the Moscow Newspaper. 

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