The Boston Society of Architects (BSA) awarded 22 Tarrytown Road Workforce Housing with its prestigious Housing Design Award Citation at the BSA Design Awards Gala on January 29.
The jury said, "With massing articulated in a series of vertical volumes to break up its horizontality, this well-designed project looks great—not at all like affordable housing."
Working with Westhab, Inc., Magnusson Architecture and Planning, PC (MAP) designed this affordable rental development, which is three-stories tall and contains 28 rental units for workforce families. The new structure replaces a distressed motel that had been used as a homeless shelter.
"Replacing a homeless shelter with attractive, high quality affordable housing truly is poetic justice. 22 Tarrytown Rd. has become a wonderful community for the 28 families that call the building home," said Richard Nightingale, president and CEO at Westhab.
Despite initial community resistance to the project, demand for its units far exceeded supply: 450 applications were filed for 28 available units, which range from studios to two-bedrooms for low-income individuals and families.
"Working on a tight budget and dealing with community resistance to affordable housing, we created a building that beautifies the neighborhood and provides a healthy living environment for workforce families" said Fernando Villa, AIA, LEED AP BD +C the project's designer and principal at MAP.
The building design maximizes the amount of daylight provided to the apartments with generous fenestrations and glazing. The east and west exposures are controlled by sunshade elements, such as balconies, wood shutters and awnings.
The 6,000 s/f green roof reduces peak storm water runoff. Both the green roof and area is generously landscaped with native flora and fauna creating a natural buffer along property lines.
The building recently received LEED for Homes certification at the Silver level and is compliant with NYSERDA Energy Star and NYSERDA Multi-Family Performance Program.