Kingsbury Place Apartments

Large eaves, shown in this photo, direct rainwater away from the building. Deep porches provide shading during the summer.
Photo credit: Enterprise Community Partners

Overview

  • Location: Walker, MI
  • Building type(s): Special needs housing, Multi-unit residential
  • New construction
  • 40,700 ft2 (3,780 m2)
  • Project scope: multiple buildings
  • Suburban setting
  • Completed August 2006
  • Rating: U.S. Green Building Council LEED for Homes Pilot--Level: Silver

Genesis Non-Profit Housing Corporation, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, provides affordable and supportive housing for low-income, disabled, and formerly homeless individuals and families. Kingsbury Place Apartments includes 32 one-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom, and 2 three-bedroom apartments for low-income families and individuals. Of the 44 total units, 29 are reserved for families with disabilities; a local mental-health services group provides onsite support services.

Environmental Aspects

Because the project team received a grant from Enterprise Community Partners, it used the Green Communities checklist of requirements as a guide to implement green features in the apartments. Additionally, this project was part of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Homes pilot project and received a Silver certification.

Indoor environmental quality and occupant health were priorities for this development; the project team ensured that paints, adhesives, and sealants used in the building met the volatile organic compound (VOC) requirements of some of the more stringent standards in the country. The team also designed the mechanical system to provide double the typical ventilation rate.

The project team wanted to make the apartments energy efficient and therefore more affordable to live in. Efficient lighting fixtures, appliances, and mechanical systems reduce energy use, while strategically located trees limit solar heat gain in the summer. A ground-source heat-pump system further reduces energy use for heating and cooling.

The team also focused on changing occupant behavior. They installed an individual electric meter in each apartment and provided residents with manuals detailing the benefits, use, and proper care of the appliances, systems, and materials in the apartments.

Owner & Occupancy

  • Owned by Genesis Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Corporation, nonprofit
  • Occupants: Individual(s)

Building Programs

Indoor Spaces:

Living quarters (95%), Public assembly (3%), Other (2%)

Keywords

Integrated team, Green framework, Green specifications, Operations and maintenance, Transportation benefits, Indigenous vegetation, Stormwater management, Water harvesting, Efficient fixtures and appliances, Drought-tolerant landscaping, Insulation levels, Durability, Benign materials, Recycled materials, C&D waste management, Occupant recycling, Ventilation effectiveness, Low-emitting materials

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