High Point

A Model for Inclusive Sustainability

Seattle, WA

Promoting Diversity

The community-based plan grew from extensive engagement in six languages, transforming dilapidated public housing into an inclusive, sustainable neighborhood. A spectrum of home types promotes economic, generational, and social interaction. Design guidelines for streets, public/private space modulation, and site planning helped increase density without compromising the human-scaled, community feel.

Residents Breathe Easy

From planning through construction and operations, resident wellbeing remained top priority. Careful redevelopment phasing minimized the impact of displacement. First in the country, “Breathe Easy” Homes were designed to minimize asthma triggers – resulting in 67% fewer emergency room visits.

Spawning Innovation

Streets reknit the neighborhood with views to Mt. Rainier. The district-scaled natural stormwater system, Seattle’s first, minimizes impact on salmon-bearing Longfellow Creek. Residents and the environment benefit from resource-efficient homes, walkable streets, accessible parks, and preserved mature trees. This national model has set the bar for healthy homes, green stormwater infrastructure, and sustainable affordable housing.

Client

Seattle Housing Authority

Overview

Federally-funded HOPE VI transformation of 713 World War II era public housing apartments into a diverse, internationally-recognized mixed-income sustainable community

Program

1,600 homes in two phases (mixture of single-family, duplex, rowhouses, apartments, and senior housing), including both affordable and market-rate housing, with parks, community gardens, public library, clinic, and Neighborhood Center

Size

120 acres

Completion Date

2009

Services

Architecture, Urban Design & Planning

Awards

Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association Excellence in Concrete Awards, Sustainable Merit Award, 2007

US Environmental Protection Agency, National Award for Smart Growth Achievement, Built Projects, 2007

Urban Land Institute, Award for Excellence, The Americas, 2007

Urban Land Institute, Global Award for Excellence, 2007

Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, Silver Medal Winner, 2007

Puget Sound Regional Council, 2020 Award, 2007

Pacific Coast Builders Gold Nugget Awards, Master Planned Community of the Year, 2007

Pacific Coast Builders Gold Nugget Awards, Grand Award, Masterplanned Community of the Year, 2007

National Association of Home Builders Pillars of the Industry Awards, National Green Building Award, Multifamily Project of the Year, 2007

BuiltGreen, National Hammer Award, 2007

AIA Washington Civic Design Awards, Merit Award, 2007

AIA Housing Committee Awards, Multifamily Housing Award, 2007

International Society of Arboriculturists, Green Leaf Award, 2006

Energy Star, Outstanding Achievement Award, 2006

BuiltGreen, Certificate of Merit, 2006

AIA/HUD Secretary’s Award, Community Informed Design Award, 2006

AIA Housing and Custom Residential Knowledge Community, Show You're Green Award, Affordable Housing, 2006

Seattle BuiltGreen Design Competition, Communites Award, 2005

Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Apprenticeship Opportunity Award, 2005

Seattle Design Commission Design Excellence Awards, Master Plan Design Award, 2004

Pacific Coast Builders Gold Nugget Awards, Best on-the-Boards Site Plan, 2004

AIA Seattle Committee on the Environment, What Makes it Green, 2004

Bioswales and narrow streets preserve the environment and provide additional greenery.

The neighborhood is walkable, with porches fronting sidewalks that meander around preserved trees.

Open space between homes creates pockets of green.

Drainage swales mimic traditional planting strips with a 50/50 mixture of lawn and native shrubs, and all sidewalks are made of porous concrete to let water through.

Non-allergenic plants for landscaping have been chosen to minimize the release of pollen.

The community garden was built, planted and is maintained by neighborhood residents.

The community garden provides vegetables for sale and for residents’ own use.

Benches and mailbox shelters in pocket parks help bring community members together.

A portion of existing housing units were deconstructed and materials were salvaged for reuse either on-site or other locations in the area.

All of the homes were built to improve air quality through better tightness and ventilation.

A Model for Inclusive Sustainability

High Point