Merritt Crossing

Oakland, CA

Located at the edge of Oakland’s Chinatown, this new affordable senior housing transforms an abandoned site near a busy freeway into a community asset for disadvantaged or formerly homeless seniors while setting a high standard for sustainable and universal design.

The high-density, transit-oriented project is one of the first new developments planned near the Lake Merritt BART regional transit station. The upper floor apartments respond to the character of the eclectic Pan-Asian neighborhood with colorful and varied porous facades that reflect their orientation. The south façade features an independent screen that provides shading, privacy and acoustical modulation while enlivening the view of passing freeway drivers.

The 70 apartments are all reserved for seniors with incomes between 30% and 50% of area median. Over half of the apartments were set aside for seniors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living with HIV/AIDS or challenged by mental illness. The project achieved a Platinum rating under the LEED for Homes program, over 200 points in the GreenPoint rating program, Bay Friendly landscaping certification, and was named the first Energy Star rated multifamily building in California.

• LEED Platinum; 205 Green Points
• AIA National – Committee on the Environment, Top Ten Green Project
• AIA National, Housing Award
• AIA California Council, Merit Award, Sustainability
• AIA East Bay Residential, Honor Award
• Client: Satellite Affordable Housing Associates
• Size: 62,000 sq. ft.
• Team: Charlie Stott, Project Architect for LMS Architects
• Photography: Tim Griffith