Paisano Green Community in El Paso, Texas by Workshop 8 Architecture (designed using Vectorworks and Sketchup Pro)

Article source: Workshop 8

In February of 2010 The Housing Authority of The City of El Paso held a national design competition to help them create the “greenest affordable housing development in the country”. This 73-unit, LEED Platinum, senior housing neighborhood represents a bold new direction in affordable housing and HACEP is leading the way. The project is a mix of one and two bedroom units, nine single room occupancies (SROs), and a central, iconic community building housing office and meeting space — all of which are designed to be wheel-chair adaptable and have 100% visitability.

New Paisano Green Community Renderings

• Architects: Workshop 8 Architecture
• Project: Paisano Green Community
• Location: El Paso, Texas
• Software used: Vectorworks and Sketchup Pro
• Roma Campanile
  HOPE VI/Choice Neighborhood Grant Manager
  HUD/Office of Public Housing Investments
• client contact
  Housing Authority of the City of El Paso
  Gerald Cichon, Chief Executive Officer

New Paisano Green Community Renderings

• Services
  Full Architectural and Landscape services including Energy rating and LEED Platinum Consulting.
• Project cost
  $11,000,000 Exclusive of Site Costs
• Status
  Designed Services Completed 2010
  Construction Completed 2012
• Media link
  “Boulder Design Team Win El Paso Affordable Housing Competition”, Residential Architect—June 23, 2010
• Funding
  $8.25M CFRC grant through HUD, $500K HACEP CFP grant, $500K local municipal loan from the City of El Paso, $3.25M of unrestricted funds from the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso.

New Paisano Green Community Renderings

An exciting aspect of this project, are the NetZero energy and Fossil Fuel Free goals — through solar PV panels, the project will produce as much energy over a calendar year as the occupants use, meaning no utility bills for tenants or the Housing Authority.

New Paisano Green Community Renderings

The site consists of four, three story “flats” buildings, a row of nine duplex buildings and a long utility structure referred to as the “Canopy Wall” that houses elevators and laundry facilities, all of which create an enclosed “Tapestry Garden”. The garden is an oasis in the center of the City of El Paso where residents can stroll, chat with neighbors and invite family over for an outdoor birthday party from time to time. W8 provided full architectural, interior and landscape services including coordination of all sub consultants.

Paisano Green Community

“The HUD team and I were very impressed with the use of architecture and additional passive solar strategies to create green, energy efficient housing. I also think that the site planning was quite inventive in screening out unwanted views and adjacent site uses. Our team has been travelling to quite a few green ARRA projects and the Paisano community is definitely a standout!”

Paisano Green Community

Sustainable features
LEED-Platinum; Green Enterprise Communities, net-zero energy design; infill development; optimal passive solar design; mostly southern and northern windows with few east and west windows; proper overhangs and inset window placement; east and west walls shaded by solar screens; solar chimney; operable windows for natural ventilation; high-performance building shell, fiberglass windows, less than 1 air change per 10 hours <0.1 NACH); energy recovery ventilators; storm water management; drought tolerant plants; energy efficient HVAC (mini-split heat pumps); solar thermal for domestic hot water and solar photovoltaic, wind turbines; HERS rating of 10. renewable energy: first cost $1,220,000; operational savings $3,700,000 (50 Yr), $1,450,000 (30 Yr)

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Paisano Green Community

Tags: El Paso, Texas

Categories: Housing Development, SketchUp, Vectorworks

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