The design creates 75 spacious one-bedroom suites, each with a sun-filled living room and full kitchen and bathroom. An outdoor courtyard which maximizes sun exposure and is protected from street noise is located atop the grade-level parking garage. The main elevator lobby, lounge, and adjoining shared community halls line the building’s street frontage where the building mass steps down near the historic Nishioka Building. Open private patios are typical except at the street facade where interior courtyards protect living spaces from outside noise.

Japantown’s location in the historical Nihonmachi District of the city played a major factor in site selection and design. The architecture emulates a translucent screen by day - a lantern by night. Our team strived to create a building which enhanced the neighborhood while providing the community with opportunities to age comfortably in their beloved neighborhood. The proximity to the VTA network empowers residents to get around the city independently and self-sufficiently.

Japantown is certified LEED Platinum through the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes Midrise. Our partner, First Community Housing, is dedicated to sustainable building design and recognizes the intersectionality of green design benefits in terms of health and finances. Thus, a variety of green building features such as low-VOC finishes, energy efficient appliances, water conserving fixtures and landscaping were incorporated. These features provide improved indoor environments for building occupants and economic benefits to tenants through lowered utility bills. 

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