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American Institute of Architects - Housing and Community Design Awards

The Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in conjunction with the Residential Knowledge Community of The American Institute of Architects (AIA), recognizes excellence in affordable housing, community-based design, participatory design, and accessibility. These awards demonstrate that design matters and provide examples of important benchmarks in the housing industry. Awards are offered in four categories: Community–Informed Design Award, Creating Community Connection Award, Excellence in Affordable Housing Design Award, and Housing Accessibility— Alan J. Rothman Award.





Housing Accessibility - Alan J. Rothman Award
The purpose of this award is to show exemplary projects that demonstrate excellence in improving housing accessibility for people with disabilities.
 

Waterloo Heights Apartments of Los Angeles, California

Waterloo Heights Apartments of Los Angeles, California sought to create high-quality, affordable housing for low-income, special-needs tenants including disabled Veterans, seniors and individuals with HIV/AIDS. The craftsman-style courtyard provides a hub for social interaction and, many of the front doors opening off this courtyard, offers informal security for the adjacent front gate and increased opportunity for chance encounter. When the development was completed in August 2003, 200 applications had already been received. In September 2003, 17 tenants moved in.


Housing Accessibility - Alan J. Rothman Award
Community building is a people-based approach to fighting poverty that builds on the assets of the community. It supports people on the poor neighborhoods as they rebuild social structures and relationships that may have been weakened by out-migration, disinvestment, and the isolation of inner-city areas.
 

Blake Street Flats in Denver Colorado

Blake Street Flats in Denver Colorado represents the third phase of an inner-city redevelopment effort located in one of the city's historic districts, and just a short walk from the central business district. This 3-story, 24 unit building, designed as an infill project in a neighborhood of historic homes and industrial warehouses, is intended to reintroduce affordable housing appropriate to its setting. The design phase of the project involved a diverse group of community stakeholders and former residents of the area's previously failed public housing projects.


Housing Accessibility - Alan J. Rothman Award
This award recognizes projects that embrace and demonstrate the revitalizing potential of mixed-use and mixed-income housing developments. "Mixed-use housing" refers to developments that combine residential land use with nonresidential uses(s), such as retail centers, community centers, public facilities, and the like, "Mixed- income housing" refers to residential developments designed and financed to include market-rate as well as below-market-rate (affordable) housing.
 

Esther Short Commons of Vancouver, Washington,

Esther Short Commons of Vancouver, Washington, is a mixed-use, mixed-income neighborhood center that consists of 160,777 square feet of living and retail space. The primary intentions of this mixed-use, mixed income project was to contribute to the neighborhood's vibrant street life, take advantage of urban location, provide a permanent home for the regional farmers market, increase neighborhood safety and provide affordable downtown living options.