Architect: Archumana
Location: Petaluma, California, USA
Lot Area: 2.33 acres
Gross Building Area: 42,242 s.f.
Owner: PEP Housing
Year of completion: 2008
Photographs Aerial archives, Archumana team

Casa Grande Senior Housing has won the 2009 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award. This annual award, bestowed by Governor Schwarzenegger is “California’s most prestigious environmental honor, given only to Californians who exemplify exceptional leadership for protecting and enhancing the environment while at the same time promoting economic growth.”

PEP Housing was also named a National Green Building Award Finalist by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) for Casa Grande Senior Apartments. The project received a score of 103 points, more than double the points needed to earn a Petaluma Build It Green certificate.

This 58 unit, low-income senior apartment development focuses on providing an environment that promotes wellness and aging in place. To that end, the overall design objective for this project was to create places that support and celebrate independent senior living in all its manifestations, regardless of physical capabilities. The concept evolved from a clear diagram that was derived analytically from site, program and the pragmatics of construction. This pattern was then clipped, twisted, interrupted and shaped to become an organic interplay of structure and space. The resulting site relationship is a grouping of “mini – neighborhoods” organized around a central promenade that serves as the main pedestrian street, culminating at the community building, garden, bocce ball court and adjacent creek. The network of walkways, second floor breezeways and connecting bridges supports and encourages residents to dwell in and freely explore their community in a variety of ways. A range of spaces from tight quiet spaces to grandly energetic ones provides an element of discovery.

site plan

The concept involves shaping the spaces between buildings as carefully as the buildings themselves are shaped creating courtyards and outdoor spaces to various scales and sizes for a range of intimate to grand community activities. The use of covered breezeways, a central promenade and intimate courtyards create an environment in which the inhabitants feel welcomed, engaged and connected. Outdoor plazas, patios, balconies and viewing windows further delineate this as a place to gather, encourage community and allow for discovery.

In addition to meeting accessibility requirements of ADA, Fair Housing Act and Section 504, the design incorporates universal design elements in all dwelling units and in common areas. All units are equipped with a covered entry way, view windows that go to 6” above the finish floor, wheelchair accessible showers, grab bars at toilets, a wheelchair height – cabinet mounted kitchen oven, loop handle pulls on drawers and cabinets, adjustable height shelves in kitchen cabinets, front-mounted controls on appliances, front-mounted base cabinet garbage disposal switch, high contrast glare free floor surfaces, hand-push / finger pull door latches, electrical outlets mounted at 19” above finish floor, night- illuminated light switches and a bathroom wall mounted emergency call station that is connected to the managers unit. All second floor units are accessible from 2 elevators and a network of walkways and connecting bridges. Common areas include multiple laundry rooms on both levels, wheelchair accessible raised planters at the community garden, an outdoor exercise station and an at-grade access point to the creek.

The buildings also promote health by protecting indoor air quality though the use of formaldehyde-free MDF cabinets, all recycled content carpeting, and non VOC paints. This development is Build-it-Green certified.

To realize an economically affordable solution for this HUD financed housing development, a typical unit floor plan in the majority of buildings along with a standardization of kitchen, bathroom and roof truss layouts were used.

This property is the first Build-It-Green certified multi-family project in Sonoma County. It passed with 103 points; double the 50 points (in various categories) that are required for certification. As a result, PEP Housing was a finalist for the 2009 National Association of Home Builders National Green Building Award for this project!

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Some of the green features include: a photovoltaic system, hydronic heating, water efficient landscaping with satellite irrigation control, light gauge recycled content steel framing, and recycling a minimum of 75% of construction waste.

Casa Grande Senior Housing has won the 2009 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award. This annual award, bestowed by Governor Schwarzenegger is “California’s most prestigious environmental honor, given only to Californians who exemplify exceptional leadership for protecting and enhancing the environment while at the same time promoting economic growth.”