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850 Delaware Avenue is a new affordable housing project commissioned by the District of Columbia.   The building is part of Mayor Bowser’s initiative to close an aging, overcrowded facility by creating new short term family housing buildings in each ward of the City.  The facility will house 50 families in 7-10 housing units per floor with community rooms, private & family bathrooms, and a federally qualified health service clinic in the lowest level.  Wrap-around services will be provided to all tenants including connections to permanent housing programs, housing search assistance, social work staff, early childhood screenings & school liaisons, education training & employment services, health care, and financial & budget management counseling.

The building has a ziggurat form that preserves the existing tree canopies and allows for maximum daylighting & views.  Each elevation of the building is uniquely different; the glassy North facade contains community rooms on each floor that look out towards the Capitol, the dynamic South facade frames the entrance to the health clinic, the calm East facade contains screened outdoor play spaces on each floor, and the stepped West facade creates a front "lawn" for each unit.  The building is intended to complement the developing southwest Washington DC skyline while creating an optimal living experience for the tenants.