Austin Design Cooperative has been concentrating on high energy, low carbon footprint buildings for the New England affordable housing market, including Passive House, Deep Energy Retrofits, Mass Saves All Electric from initial concepts through construction.
Austin Design Cooperative is an employee owned architectural company in southern Vermont, comprising of highly empathetic listeners, thinkers, and doers. We strive to make every project memorable and to leave the world better than we found it.
EAST GABLES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AMHERST, MA.
Project Summary:
The development consists of 28 studio units of affordable housing on a .88-acre lot at 132 Northampton Road in Amherst, MA. An existing home on the lot was demolished, and a new 12,560 square foot 2 ½ half story building with apartments on 3 levels was constructed. The building is accessed through a main at-grade lobby with an open stair leading down to the walk-out basement level and up to the first floor. Egress stairs at each end provide direct access from all floors to the exterior. A 4-stop elevator connects the lobby and all floors. Interior common and support spaces include a resident common room, resident services coordinator office, property manager office and laundry room site features include parking, connecting walkways, covered bike storage area and storage shed.
Collaboration with Center for EcoTechnology (CET) for Passive House consulting and has completed its first submission to PHIUS. The selected GC and its subcontractors worked together with the architect, mechanical engineer, and CET to meet performance standards for Passive House compliance, including ENERGY STAR certification, Indoor Air Plus certification, and Zero Energy Ready Homes certification.
