Converting a dated housing complex into highly sustainable, accessible, and affordable rental units

The Gardenette housing complex has provided stable and relatively attainable housing for Jamestown for half a century. However, due to the quality of the existing units and the rental experience, this development has steadily had approximately 30% vacancy even as the rest of Jamestown faces a housing supply shortage. Additionally, the existing conditions of the site create a range of challenges preventing most units from having accessible routes or entry points, and the site layout also currently prioritizes car ownership for even basic tasks.

This updated development aims to improve the occupant experience through highly sustainable and accessible renovations of the existing housing units, while also improving site access and walkability. New photovoltaic arrays at open lot space and rooftops combine with battery storage to greatly improve the self-sufficiency and resiliency of the development while also greatly reducing energy costs for residents.

With each existing building sharing the same layout of four equally sized one-bedroom apartments, the updated development carefully and thoughtfully reworks the existing layouts into new combinations that allow for two- and three-bedroom apartments as well, all while reusing as much of the existing interior layout as feasible in order to minimize material waste and keep the project as financially efficient as possible. All housing units will now be highly accessible, with a portion of the housing units upgraded to follow universal design standards.

The building envelopes and systems will also be overhauled as well to improve not only energy efficiency, but also occupant comfort in the colder climate. The exterior envelope will be retrofitted to include much thicker insulation and airtight detailing around all openings, and highly efficient HVAC and water heating equipment will be installed as well, resulting in significant reductions in energy usage.