A few miles from downtown Aspen, Colo., a development will provide 277 new affordable homes for an area experiencing a dire affordable housing crisis. Designed by Cushing Terrell, the 11-acre Aspen Lumberyard Affordable Housing neighborhood aims to serve as a pedestrian-friendly, environmentally sustainable community—one that “looks, lives, and feels authentically Aspen,” according to a press statement.
Through a collaborative planning and design process, Cushing Terrell visited numerous affordable housing developments in Aspen, met with city staff and local stakeholders, and worked with Aspen’s city council to understand the city’s and the county housing authority’s affordable-housing vision. Cushing Terrell also held workshops with city staff and other local environmental stakeholders, who consensually created a list of must-haves for environmental stewardship and resiliency. As part of its community engagement efforts, Cushing Terrell conducted in-person open-house workshops and online surveys.
Cushing Terrell’s sustainability team determined that Enterprise Green Communities Plus (EGC+), a national green building program created with and for the affordable housing sector, most closely aligned with the city’s commitment to be a leader in creating highly sustainable affordable housing. The city council also approved Cushing Terrell’s recommendation to target a baseline of 75% on-site offset with the ability to go higher in the future.
With an anticipated development cost of $400 million, the Lumberyard neighborhood will provide, across a range of incomes, a mix of 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units, including 195 rental units and 82 deed-restricted for-sale units. Infrastructure construction is scheduled to start in 2024.
On the Building Team:
Owner and developer: City of Aspen
Design architect: Cushing Terrell
Architect of record: Cushing Terrell
Structural engineer: S.A. Miro, Inc.
MEP engineer: Cushing Terrell
Civil engineer: Roaring Fork Engineering
Landscape architect and public engagement: Connect One Design
Environmental consulting: Slosky & Company, Inc.
Sustainability consulting: Group14 Engineering
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | May 19, 2023
A new behavioral health facility in California targets net zero energy
Shortly before Mental Health Awareness Month in May, development and construction firm Skanska announced the topping out of California’s first behavioral health facility—and the largest in the nation—to target net zero energy. Located in Redwood City, San Mateo County, Calif., the 77,610-sf Cordilleras Health System Replacement Project is slated for completion in late 2024.
Government Buildings | May 18, 2023
GSA launches first biennial construction award program
Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced the new biennial GSA Construction Award program, which is seeking submissions this summer. The program was created to honor outstanding achievements in construction, with a focus on quality and craftsmanship, collaboration and team dynamics, sustainability, innovation, and technology. The first Construction Awards ceremony will take place in 2024.
Affordable Housing | May 17, 2023
Affordable housing advocates push for community-owned homes over investment properties
Panelists participating in a recent webinar hosted by the Urban Institute discussed various actions that could help alleviate the nation’s affordable housing crisis. Among the possible remedies: inclusionary zoning policies, various reforms to increase local affordable housing stock, and fees on new development to offset the impact on public infrastructure.
University Buildings | May 17, 2023
New UC Irvine health sciences building supports aim to become national model for integrative health
The new College of Health Sciences Building and Nursing & Health Sciences Hall at the University of California Irvine supports the institution’s goal of becoming a national model for integrative health. The new 211,660-sf facility houses nursing, medical doctorate, pharmacy, philosophy, and public health programs in a single building.
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.
Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023
Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier
Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.
Headquarters | May 16, 2023
Workplace HQ for party clothing company Shinesty celebrates its bold, whimsical products
The new Denver headquarters for Shinesty, a party clothing company, was designed to match the brand’s fun image with an iconic array of colors, textures, and prints curated by the design agency, Maximalist. Shinesty’s mission, to challenge the world to live more freely and “take itself less seriously,” is embodied throughout the office interior.
Office Buildings | May 15, 2023
Sixteen-story office tower will use 40% less energy than an average NYC office building
This month marks the completion of a new 16-story office tower that is being promoted as New York City’s most sustainable office structure. That boast is backed by an innovative HVAC system that features geothermal wells, dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) units, radiant heating and cooling, and a sophisticated control system to ensure that the elements work optimally together.
K-12 Schools | May 12, 2023
In Virginia, a new high school building helps reimagine the experience for 1,600 students
In Virginia, the City of Alexandria recently celebrated the topping out of a new building for Alexandria City High School. When complete in 2025, the high-performance structure will accommodate 1,600 students.
AEC Tech Innovation | May 12, 2023
Meet Diverge, Hensel Phelps' new ConTech investment company
Thai Nguyen, Director of Innovation with Hensel Phelps, discusses the construction giant's new startup investment platform, Diverge.
