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Gish Family Apartments

Completed / Mixed Use / Transit-oriented / Inclusive Design

The design of Gish Family Apartments both a celebration of, and response to the adjacent transit. Rather than seeking an outdoor balcony exemption, the design team took advantage of the mild local climate by creating protective, transparent balconies that deflect street noise and allow natural ventilation and sunshine. The result; apartments are quiet and balconies catch fresh breezes. This design solution celebrates the California indoor/outdoor lifestyle and proves that even on the most challenging of sites, even affordable housing projects can provide pleasant outdoor spaces for residents. 

Project Details

LOCATION

San Jose, CA

CLIENT

First Community Housing

COMPLETION DATE

2008

UNITS

35 Family

SIZE

37,160 SF

CONTRACTOR

Branagh Inc.

COST

$10.4 million

Designing spaces that enhance quality of life for residents of all incomes.

Built on an urban brownfield site adjacent to a light-rail station, Gish increases the neighborhood density while providing transportation options to residents. The infill project includes a mixed-use commercial space which is leased by 7-Eleven and provides convenient shopping for the community, while the close proximity to public transportation provides the major benefit of transportation autonomy.


The 35 affordable apartments are reserved strictly for families earning less than one-half the median income in the area, and designed to ensure residents of all abilities can thrive.  An enhanced quality of life for the residents was a design imperative. Besides a facility-wide smoking ban and low-emission furniture, paints, and adhesives, noise pollution from the street and light-rail was also addressed.


Energy efficiency was critical and became the cohesive factor in the design: Two-by-six exterior stud walls allow for extra insulation; heat gain is minimized through smaller southerly windows; hallway configurations boost natural daylight and ventilation, and Energy-Star appliances are standard. The roof hosts a 30kw photovoltaic array that provides 30 percent of electricity used in common areas. High-efficiency heat pumps are used throughout, and a monitor in the community room displays the solar output. Gish is the only affordable housing development in the United States to receive both LEED for Homes and LEED NC Gold certification. It has also received  COTE Top Ten and was published internationally, including in the Moscow Newspaper. 


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“Ever since Christopher (who has severe autism) moved into Gish Apartments, I’ve noticed that he is calmer. The green environment helps him cope and process more easily. He really likes the building and is very happy there.”

— Mother of resident

Project Recognition

CERTIFICATIONS

LEED Gold


PUBLICATIONS

  • Urban Land, August 2009 “ULX, Residential Green”

  • GreenSource, August 2009 “AIA/COTE Announce 2009 Top Ten Green Projects”

  • Interior Design, April 2009 “AIA, COTE Announce 2009 Top Ten Sustainable Projects”

  • AIArchitect, April 2009 “COTE Names Its Top Ten Sustainable Projects”

  • Scientific American, May 2009 “Slide Show: Top 10 Earth- and People-Friendly Buildings”

  • World Architecture News, April 2009 “AIA pick Top Ten Green Projects”

  • Architecture and Architectural Review, London, June 2009 “Royal Academy Architectural Exhibition London”

  • ArchitectureWeek, June 2009 “AIA/COTE Top Ten Projects for 2009”

  • Stroitelstvo, Sofia, Bulgaria, April 2009 “American Institute of Architects select “Top-Ten” Green”

  • OVK Service News, Moscow, Russia, June 2009 “American Institute of Architects 2009 Green”

  • ResearchStudio, Tokyo, Japan, June 2009 “DESIGN*art: archive: winners AIA/COTE Top Ten Green”

  • Red Arquitectura, Barcelona Spain, July 2009 “Proyectos Sustentables 2009

AWARDS

  • AIA/COTE 2009 Top Ten Green Award American Institute of Architects, Washington, DC and United States COTE

  • Annual Affordable Housing Project Award, 2008 United States Green Building Council, National Expo/Boston

  • Reader’s Choice Green Award, 2008 Affordable Housing Finance Magazine

  • I. Donald Terner Prize for Innovation and Leadership in Affordable Housing, UC Berkeley, 2008

  • Citation for Excellence in Architecture Award, 2008 AIA/ExRES Bay Area Exceptional Residential Design Awards/ AIAEB

  • Award of Honor, 2008 American Institute of Architects Santa Clara Valley