Iamesi Village is a 100% affordable housing development for veterans, the I/DD community, and the formerly homeless, and is one of the largest affordable housing developments in San Jose. San Jose has been an epicenter of change throughout history, from the dramatic evolution of a vast agricultural landscape turned sprawling technology campuses and rapid development of its urban core, to its subsequent gentrification and overwhelming number of people experiencing homelessness. California is also experiencing major natural disasters at an increased frequency and intensity due to climate change. These shifts have created an extremely complex and challenging environment, particularly as it relates to housing. Iamesi Village is born from, shaped by, and attempts to solve for many of those challenges, while recognizing that because change is one of the few constants of its place, resilient design is of the utmost importance. 

Conceived as an affordable housing development for vulnerable individuals, Iamesi’s permanent supportive housing model’s goal is to safely house those experiencing homelessness first, while providing the support, resources, and resilience necessary to ensure that they remain safely housed permanently. By housing more people long-term in an area rich with amenities and transportation options, we aim to affect positive change in our communities whose top concerns are housing affordability and homelessness. Iamesi Village is part of the North San Pedro Residential Project which connects a recently redeveloped area of downtown with Guadalupe Park and the commercial shopping area of San Pedro Square. Rebuilding the traditional neighborhood street grid and developing a new residential community with a variety of dwelling types for diverse backgrounds and incomes provides a more vibrant fabric that connects currently separated sections of the city. Amidst a sea of market rate and luxury apartments, this project prevents the city from becoming a monolithic unaffordable zone, and instead, creates a vibrant neighborhood with diverse incomes and backgrounds.

The building is made up of 5-stories of 135 residential studios over a concrete parking podium. The site is bordered by Guadalupe Freeway to the west and Union Pacific Railroad to the north - a piece of land that market-rate developers deemed undesirable, which offered us an exciting design challenge. To shelter from railway noise, three parallel bars of residential units are connected by a fractal sound wall that shields open-air corridors. The resulting voids between the bars yield two protected yet light-filled podium-level courtyards that enjoy views of downtown and take advantage of the Bay Area’s year-round mild climate. This also allows typically-indoor amenities, such as the gym, to open up and activate the outdoors. However, taking advantage of the urban context, the program doesn’t over amenitize, and instead reserves interior space for flexible resident services and more dwellings.

As a permanently supportive housing development, a variety of multi-functional spaces were designed using universal and trauma-informed principles in order to house the synergistic single-site services offered to residents and carefully considered user backgrounds. Common spaces are designed with visual and physical connections to nature, which makes spaces feel safe for conversations and provides wayfinding. Exterior walkways soften the transition into units - an evidence-informed design proven to increase comfort for previously homeless residents.  Social engagement opportunities range through the building. Social service offices offer direct assistance. The community room holds community and educational events, using the courtyard to expand when necessary. A dog washing station and pet relief area recognizes the therapeutic importance of companion animals. The fourth floor solarium serves many functions such as a chill room, mediation area, staff respite, or comforting therapy room.

Stability was incredibly important in order to support residents for the long term. A durability consultant helped fine tune measures that enable the building to last for at least 50 years. To mitigate moderate flood risk on site, residential spaces are elevated above the first floor and permeable landscaping helps water infiltrate and drain during storm events. Facing the protected courtyard, angled fins add delight while optimizing daylight and reducing heat gain inside. Outdoor common areas reduce mechanical loads and increase access to fresh air. On the roof, photovoltaics and solar hot water reduce dependence on the grid and a generator ensures that the building can continue to function in the face of increased power outages in the region. During these events, the multi-purpose community spaces can act as a community hub to provide assistance to neighbors as well. The building has been recognized as LEED Platinum.

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