Originally featured on the DJC Seattle. CLICK HERE to view the article.
‘Kit of parts' supportive housing building, with 124 units, opens on Aurora
Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC) has opened a new affordable housing development at 8610 Aurora Ave. N. Named Burbidge Place, the building officially opened Dec. 6.
The property has a unique dumbbell shape and is constructed with a ‘kit of parts' panelized modular system designed by project architect Sustainable Living Innovations. It is the first DESC development to employ this patented construction method.
Burbidge Place has 124 studio units for single adults who are living with disabilities and have been experiencing homelessness. Eligible tenants must earn less than 30% of the area median income. Tenants pay up to 30% of their income in rent.
The property also houses supportive services and indoor/outdoor community spaces for residents. The ground floor is entirely devoted to services and includes a kitchen and dining area, offices, meeting room and recreation areas. On the building's south side is a landscaped enclosed courtyard with about 2,000 square feet. The total building size is around 48,185 square feet.
Ground was broken on the project in December 2021. Sustainable Living Innovations was also the general contractor (in addition to being a development partner). The company's patented factory-made structural steel panels were manufactured off-site then assembled on-site and craned into place as modules.
Owing to the modular system, all the studio units are identical and have around 320 square feet of space. Each has a kitchenette and compact “wet room-style” bathroom.
DESC said the new community serves its goals of ending homelessness and providing high-quality energy-efficient housing.
The building has several environmentally sustainable features. These include a large rooftop solar array with 168 panels providing 80.64KW of power, a system for recycling water in the basement, a waste heat recovery system, and ultra-efficient AC. The enclosed courtyard has stormwater retention planters, and each unit has a large window wall giving the space lots of natural light.
DESC says it will own and operate Burbidge Place for a minimum of 50 years. The project site was formerly the location of an old retail building that has since been demolished. DESC purchased the land for the new community in fall 2020 at a cost of nearly $3.3 million.
Funding sources for the project include the city of Seattle Office of Housing, Investor-Enterprise Community Investments, and syndicator JP Morgan Chase.
The project team also comprises DCI Engineers, structural engineer; UMC, mechanical and plumbing; Wood Harbinger, electrical; KPFF Consulting Engineers, civil; Nakano Associates, landscape architect; Bush, Roed & Hitchings, surveyor; and Morison Hirschfield, envelope.
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