This multifamily project is not a usual one, Sited at San Jose, Silicon Valley as it is called. This four story building is specially built for low income residents. Designed and developed my FAIA, the building is awarded 145 points by California’s Green Point program. It also gained the Gold ratings in both LEED for New Construction and the LEED for Homes Pilot program.

The building includes all the facilities such as laundry facilities, a community room, and computer room. Completed in June 2007 the building is of 72,000 square feet, which has 35 apartments especially reserved for tenants earning less that half the area median income. The ground floor occupy a beauty salon, it also has play area and a courtyard.

The First community Housing would prefer to locate housing in transit oriented location from which all services and resources are easily accessible. The Goal of the development team was based on this, so they choose a site that is adjacent to light rail. The resident most of them does not own a car or know to drive one, so the earned parking area where constructed with building making it high housing density consisting of 81 units per acre.

The Groceries store located at the ground floor allowed resident to buy things at convenience. The environmental aspect that made this project to win LEED certificate are the photovoltaic array fixed at roof top, high performance insulation in 2x6 exterior wall and also the double-glazed windows. The high efficiency heating system also contributes to this aspect.

The Tenants were allowed to use Energy Star appliances in order to conserve energy.
The 30-Kilowatt photovoltaic system generates energy that was used by building’s common areas and a monitor in the community room. The tenants are billed for their own energy use, ensuring that they have a financial incentive to conserve.

Water conservation features like planting drought tolerant plants, a subsurface irrigation system, dual flush toilets, low flow showerheads and faucets were used. The analysis predicts that it will use 21% of energy and 36% of water when compared with conventional building. The tenants are also very keen in using energy efficient, low pollutant products in their homes.

The project has very good window system in every apartment that allows air and natural light to flow into the building freely. The energy, water efficiency and other conservation method of this build has not only brought up LEED certificate but also made it one of the Top Ten Green Project 2009 by American Institute of Architects.

Source: AIA Top Ten, construction.com, Buildinggreen.com