Multifamily developers are bullish on the sector, with FMI’s Construction Outlook Report predicting 25% growth next year on top of this year’s blistering 36% pace. From a sustainability standpoint, much of the most interesting work is clustered at the ends of the bell curve, in both the luxury and affordable categories.
A singular high-end example is the zHome project, a 10-unit attached townhouse development in Issaquah Highlands, Wash. Designed by David Vandervort Architects, zHome is the nation’s first net-zero multifamily project, as certified this year by the International Living Future Institute. The property also achieved Living Building Challenge Petal Recognition in the Energy, Equity, and Beauty categories, and has earned the WaterSense for New Homes label (another first for the sector).
Though not “luxury” per se, the contemporary one-, two-, and three-bedroom units launched at relatively high prices for the market, topping out at $625,000. Nevertheless the homes, which range from 800 to 1,750 sf, have all been sold, except one unit reserved as a Stewardship Center for educational outreach.
The zHome dream survived a rocky history, including the 2008 economic crash and a succession of three contractors. Ultimately built by Howland Homes and Ichijo USA in collaboration with the City of Issaquah, the project includes super-insulated envelope technology, ground-source heating, and generous deployment of PV, which covers large, south-facing roof planes.
PHOTO: AARON OSTROWSKY
Water strategies should cut average usage by at least 60% through a combination of drought-tolerant landscaping, high-efficiency plumbing and laundry equipment, and use of cistern-stored rainwater for toilet flushing and clothes washing.
Brad Liljequist—zHome’s project manager, now a Technical Director for the International Living Future Institute—spread the net-zero gospel in a series of blogs for Dwell magazine. He lists micro heat pumps, better industrial design (for instance, more beautiful wall-mounted heating/cooling units), safer building materials, and deep green retrofits as priorities for further progress in the sector.
“We are undergoing a revolution in building performance, driven mainly from a grassroots, local, and regional community,” he said. “We can change, fundamentally and quickly.”
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Feb 3, 2023
Top Workplace/Interior Fitout Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Firms for 2022
Gensler, Interior Architects, AECOM, STO Building Group, and CBRE top the ranking of the nation's largest workplace/interior fitout architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 3, 2023
HUD unveils report to help multifamily housing developers overcome barriers to offsite construction
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in partnership with the National Institute of Building Sciences and MOD X, has released the Offsite Construction for Housing: Research Roadmap, a strategic report that presents the key knowledge gaps and research needs to overcome the barriers and challenges to offsite construction.
Steel Buildings | Feb 3, 2023
Top 10 structural steel building projects for 2023
A Mies van der Rohe-designed art and architecture school at Indiana University and Morphosis Architects' Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa, Calif., are among 10 projects to win IDEAS² Awards from the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 2, 2023
St. Louis’s first transit-oriented multifamily development opens in historic Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood
St. Louis’s first major transit-oriented, multi-family development recently opened with 287 apartments available for rent. The $71 million Expo at Forest Park project includes a network of pathways to accommodate many modes of transportation including ride share, the region’s Metro Transit system, a trolley line, pedestrian traffic, automobiles, and bike traffic on the 7-mile St. Vincent Greenway Trail.
Giants 400 | Feb 2, 2023
2022 Convention Center Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. convention and conference facilities sector
Clark Group, EUA, KPFF, Populous, TVS, and Walter P Moore top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest convention and conference facilities architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
Multifamily Housing | Feb 1, 2023
Step(1) housing: A new approach to sheltering unhoused people in Redwood City, Calif.
A novel solution to homelessness will open soon in Redwood City, Calif. The compact residential campus employs modular units to create individual sleeping units, most with private bathrooms. The 240 units of housing will be accompanied by shared services and community spaces. Instead of the congregate dorm-style shelters found in many U.S. cities, this approach gives each resident a private, lockable, conditioned sleeping space.
Codes and Standards | Feb 1, 2023
New Jersey to allow private firms to conduct construction inspections
New Jersey recently passed a law that will allow towns to supplement construction code enforcement with help from the private sector. The legislation, which received bipartisan support, also allows municipalities to enter into shared service agreements with neighboring towns for construction inspections.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Feb 1, 2023
University of Houston opens 'game changer' wellness center at downtown campus
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) recently opened its new Wellness & Success Center (WSC). The $39 million, 75,000 sf facility greatly improves the quality of the school’s exercise programs and areas dedicated to them. It also establishes a dynamic core and recognizable landmark for fostering and nurturing an on-campus community, according to a news release from SmithGroup, which designed the building along with HarrisonKornberg Architects.
Giants 400 | Feb 1, 2023
2022 Cultural Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. cultural facilities sector
Populous, DLR Group, KPFF, Arup, and Turner Construction head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report. Building types include museums, public libraries, performing arts centers, and concert venues.
Giants 400 | Jan 31, 2023
2022 Retail Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. retail building sector
Gensler, CallisonRTKL, Kimley-Horn, Henderson Engineers, Whiting-Turner Contracting, and Turner Construction top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest retail sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2022 Giants 400 Report.
