flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

3 affordable housing projects that overcame building obstacles

Affordable Housing

3 affordable housing projects that overcame building obstacles

Despite their challenges, these developments delivered affordable multifamily housing to communities in need.


By Quinn Purcell, Managing Editor | March 14, 2023
Three multifamily projects that had challenges to overcome

In our latest call for entries, Building Design+Construction collected over 20 multifamily projects with a focus on affordable housing. These three developments faced certain obstacles during their building processes—from surrounding noise suppression to construction methodology.

This article is part of BD+C’s 2023 affordable multifamily project roundup. While this article focuses on projects that faced unique challenges during their building processes, other categories include Passive House-designed developmentsmixed-use communities, and more. The entire list of projects can be found here.

683 Thwaites Place

Bronx, N.Y.
 

683 Thwaites Place affordable housing development by RKTB Architects
Thwaites Place incorporates rooftop solar panels and a high-performance thermal envelope as strategies for reducing energy costs. Photos © John Bartelstone, courtesy RKTB Architects

683 Thwaites Place is a for-profit development featuring 36 high-quality affordable apartments, street-level retail, and community spaces. The surrounding Allerton neighborhood of the Bronx presented an ideal opportunity for developer Volmar Construction: An area where market-rate units rent at rates only marginally higher than those earmarked as affordable.

The site—under 4,000 sf and directly facing an elevated platform serving subway trains—presented multiple challenges. For one, the typical block-and-plank technique was a nonstarter, so architect RKTB selected a metal “deep deck” system as an alternative approach. Additionally, the architects had to devise a way to reduce the levels of noise from passing trains for residents, and also complete a thorough review process to ensure the development would pass muster with the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA). RKTB worked with specialty consultants for both MTA compliance and noise mitigation, passing many levels of review and approval before construction could even commence.

The façade design tackled the noise issue by minimizing window openings on the side facing the train and elevating them to almost a clerestory height, compensated for by openings to bring in light and air on other sides. Only the bathroom and kitchen of a single unit on each floor is located along the train-side wall. Additionally, the sustainably designed building incorporates rooftop solar panels and a high-performance thermal envelope as strategies for reducing energy costs.

On the Building Team:
Developer, GC: Volmar Construction
Architect, Interiors: RKTB Architects
Structural Engineer: Brooker Engineering
MEP Engineer: Joselow & Associates
Green-Building Consultant: The Association for Energy Affordability, Inc. (AEA)
Building Code Expeditor: Nagan Ex, Inc.

Thwaites Place exterior

Thwaites place exterior and interior

Thwaites Place white interior with dark wood floors and cabinets

Thwaites Place street view with woman walking



Harrison Row Townhomes

Chicago, Ill.
 

Structured Development's Harrison Row Townhomes modular project exterior
Structured Development | Harrison Row Townhomes phase two exteriors. Photos courtesy Coldwell Banker/Annette Shelton. In-progress photos (below) courtesy Structured Development

Harrison Row Townhomes is a 40-unit housing community in East Garfield Park, Chicago, Ill., for households earning up to 120% of the area’s median income (AMI). Twenty-eight of the units were built by Chicago-based Kinexx Modular Construction, marking the first townhome application of the company’s modular designs, with residences placed back-to-back rather than side-by-side. The residences at Harrison Row are all family-sized, with three or four bedrooms and 1.5 to 2.5 baths—and, uniquely, are for-sale rather than rental.

Structured partnered with Fain’s Development, LLC, a Black-owned developer based nearby in East Garfield Park, on the project – first as a mentor during Phase One, then as a joint venture partner on two of the 28 modular units in Phase Two. Kinexx manufactured the modules in its Southwest Side factory and transported them to the site for assembly on a standard perimeter foundation. When complete, the homes are indistinguishable from those built using traditional construction methods, with no seams visible. Kinexx is the first company to design, build and install a modular home in Chicago, with plans customized to the city’s typical lot size.

On the Building Team:
Developer: Structured Development
Architects: Axios Architects, Ellipsis Inc.
Structural/Civil Engineers: Webster, McGrath & Ahlberg, Ltd., Kinexx Modular Construction
MEP Engineers: Axios, Ellipsis Inc
Landscape Architects: Reveal, First Choice Landscaping, Diaz Landscape
General Contractor: Kinexx Modular Construction, Chicago Common

Modular townhomes being built

Harrison Row Townhomes exterior complete

Modern modular bedroom and bathroom

Modern modular kitchen



425 Grand Concourse

Bronx, N.Y.
 

Multifamily exterior pergola
Grand Concourse is PHIUS-certified, and will consume up to 70% less energy than conventional housing projects. Photo © Albert Vecerka/Esto, courtesy REHAU

425 Grand Concourse, located in the Bronx, N.Y., is the largest Passive House project in North America to date. At 300,000 sf, Grand Concourse contains 277 affordable housing units (on an income tier basis), a medical facility, supermarket, community support space, and a new student services center for CUNY Hostos, the public community college.

The mixed-use development includes approximately 1,000 REHAU uPVC windows designed to meet PHIUS thermal goals. Built to Passive House standards, the building will consume up to 70% less energy than conventional housing projects, according to the project team. Grand Concourse provides a model for healthy living environments in a district with one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country (due to high air pollution from heavy traffic and nearby waste transfer stations). Its PHIUS-certified design minimizes the release of harmful, asthma-triggering combustion gasses for tenants.

The building offers residents a wide variety of amenities including a recreation room, landscaped roof terrace, a lounge space, fitness room, laundry rooms, and bike storage. An additional benefit to the tenants at 425 Grand Concourse is that as a part of the development, an online “dashboard” was designed by Bright Power so tenants can—in real-time—review their current energy consumption and compare it with the average building readings.

On the Building Team:
Developer: Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corporation 
General Contractor: Monadnock Construction
Architect: Dattner Architects
MEP: Dagher Engineering 
Passive House Consultant: Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Window Manufacturer: Starr Windows & Doors, Inc.

425 Grand Concourse Passive House development


Related Stories

MFPRO+ News | Mar 1, 2024

Housing affordability, speed of construction are top of mind for multifamily architecture and construction firms

The 2023 Multifamily Giants get creative to solve the affordability crisis, while helping their developer clients build faster and more economically. 

Multifamily Housing | Feb 29, 2024

Manny Gonzalez, FAIA, inducted into Best in American Living Awards Hall of Fame

Manny Gonzalez, FAIA, has been inducted into the BALA Hall of Fame.

MFPRO+ Research | Feb 28, 2024

New download: BD+C's 2023 Multifamily Amenities report

New research from Building Design+Construction and Multifamily Pro+ highlights the 127 top amenities that developers, property owners, architects, contractors, and builders are providing in today’s apartment, condominium, student housing, and senior living communities.

Affordable Housing | Feb 26, 2024

Biden-Harris Administration announces historic homelessness assistance funding

The Biden-Harris Administration allocation of $3.16 billion in homelessness assistance funding will be administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development through the Continuum of Care Program.

Building Tech | Feb 20, 2024

Construction method featuring LEGO-like bricks wins global innovation award

A new construction method featuring LEGO-like bricks made from a renewable composite material took first place for building innovations at the 2024 JEC Composites Innovation Awards in Paris, France.

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 19, 2024

Sports stadium developers sweeten projects with affordable housing to gain support

In recent years, sports stadium developers have been including affordable housing in their projects to win support from local governments and community activists.

MFPRO+ News | Feb 15, 2024

Oregon, California, Maine among states enacting policies to spur construction of missing middle housing

Although the number of new apartment building units recently reached the highest point in nearly 50 years, construction of duplexes, triplexes, and other buildings of from two to nine units made up just 1% of new housing units built in 2022. A few states have recently enacted new laws to spur more construction of these missing middle housing options.

Multifamily Housing | Feb 14, 2024

Multifamily rent remains flat at $1,710 in January

The multifamily market was stable at the start of 2024, despite the pressure of a supply boom in some markets, according to the latest Yardi Matrix National Multifamily Report.

Industry Research | Feb 8, 2024

New multifamily development in 2023 exceeded expectations

Despite a problematic financing environment, 2023 multifamily construction starts held up “remarkably well” according to the latest Yardi Matrix report.

Senior Living Design | Jan 24, 2024

Former Walgreens becomes affordable senior living community

Evergreen Real Estate Group has announced the completion of Bellwood Senior Apartments. The 80-unit senior living community at 542 25th Ave. in Bellwood, Ill., provides independent living options for low-income seniors.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021