The mixed-use affordable housing project addresses a severe housing shortage for tenants living with disabilities. The 50,000 sq ft, highly sustainable building brings higher density into the urban core of the city.  Situated on a 13,000 sq ft lot, the building contains 42 one bedroom residential units organized around a central courtyard. Commercial / retail space are located along Santa Monica Boulevard.  The building has three levels of subterranean parking.

The bold, dynamic exterior of the building provides a strong urban presence at the boulevard. This is contrasted with the interior core of the building. Here gardens, built in amenities, and a warm material palette add to the tenants shared common spaces. Each apartment has its own private front porch that overlooks the outdoor courtyard garden and supports social interaction amongst the residents. Social spaces exist for the residents as well as for public use.

The building demonstrates one of the city’s core values of environmental responsibility and it’s commitment to green building and sustainable design, serving as a pilot project for the city’s Green Building Ordinance. The arrangement of the proposed architectural scheme facilitates an environmentally conscious approach to the building services design. Arrays of photovoltaic panels are integrated into the façade and roof of the building and supply most of the peak load electricity demand while serving as a trellis for shading the roof top decks. A solar hydronic system is located on the roof and provides free hot water to the residents. Passive solar design strategies are used and include:  a north-south orientation for the living units; orienting the building to control solar cooling loads; shaping and orienting the building for exposure to prevailing winds; windows designed to maximize daylight; minimizing west-facing glazing and designing units to maximize natural ventilation. The internal bamboo forest in the inner courtyard creates a cooling microclimate.