2011 Design Competition Winners
2011 LIHTC Design Competition
In conjunction with the competitive low income housing tax credit round, MFA conducts an independently juried design competition. Projects selected by the design competition jury are awarded additional Project Selection Criteria points in accordance with the 2011 Qualified Allocation Plan. While recognizing the good design cannot be boiled-down to checkbox selection criteria, the design competition jury considers each project’s site plan, building design, context and special design, floor plan design, and construction characteristics in their deliberations. In the end, the jury selects for recognition the projects that they believe demonstrates excellence in each of these areas. The projects listed below were recognized in the 2011 LIHTC round as the most outstanding project designs submitted.
1st Place Winner
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Name: Playa Escondida |
Location: Hobbs |
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Developer: Tierra Realty Trust, LLC / Golden Spread Rural Frontier Coalition |
Architect: Lake / Flato Architects, Inc. |
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No. of Units: 71 |
Unit Mix: (32) 1-Bedroom, (39) 2-Bedroom |
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Income Mix: 50% AMI, 60% AMI, and Market |
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Target Population(s): Senior and Special Needs (5%) |
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Committee Comments: Playa Escondida offers a design solution that is highly sensitive to the place in which it is to be constructed and to the people for which it will become home. The design reflects a genuine understanding on the part of the architects of how important it is to integrate climate responsive architecture with the social needs of a specific user group. The individual units are organized to reinforce physical and social activity while at the same time addressing issues of privacy both within the unit plans and the overall site planning strategy. The massing of the buildings, their disposition on the site and environmentally appropriate landscape design makes for a friendly human scaled livable environment. |
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2nd Place Winner
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Name: Stage Coach Apartments |
Location: Santa Fe |
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Developer: Santa Fe Community Housing Trust |
Architect: Integrated Design & Architecture |
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No. of Units: 60 |
Unit Mix: (15) 0-Bedroom, (11) 1-Bedroom, (28) 2-Bedroom, (8) 3-Bedroom |
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Income Mix: 30% AMI, 50% AMI, and 60% AMI |
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Target Population(s): Families (25%) and Special Needs (5%) |
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Committee Comments: The design of Stage Coach Apartments truly captures the history and spirit of the place, and celebrated its motor court roots. Existing Pueblo Revival buildings are sensitively handled, with new building taking off with a clean, more contemporary design. The site is enlivened by the new design and a lively color and material palette. The site and landscaping plan includes a great variety of livable outdoor spaces, including well-landscaped courtyards and connections to walking trails and amenities. Rainwater harvesting and excellent solar orientation and shading are strong points to an environmentally sensitive design. The shotgun style apartment units have good cross ventilation and feature private outdoor space at both the front and back. All in all, an excellent presentation. |
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3rd Place Winner
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Name: Sundowner - Uhuru |
Location: Albuquerque |
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Developer: NewLife Homes, Inc. |
Architect: Garrett Smith, Ltd. |
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No. of Units: 71 |
Unit Mix: (44) 0-Bedroom, (15) 1-Bedroom, (11) 2-Bedroom, (1) 3-Bedroom |
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Income Mix: 30% AMI, 50% AMI, and Market |
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Target Population(s): Special Needs (25%) |
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Committee Comments: The Sundowner is an example of a well-designed adaptive reuse project that makes the most of a very challenging site and set of existing buildings. The addition of a commercially oriented space on Central Avenue will contribute to the vitality of the street. The redevelopment of the interior courtyard and parking area, which are defined by the apartment units, is done in such a way as to address security by encouraging user surveillance not only from the individual units, but also from the amenities contained within the courtyard. The vast reduction in asphalt paving and its replacement with permeable landscaping and pathways is commendable. Overall, the design fits well within its built and social context and should become a positive contributor to the revitalization of this part of Albuquerque. |
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