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Page 26 — Multifamily Properties Quarterly — February 2017
Project Spotlight
In 2013, Northeast Denver Hous-
ing Corp. approached Cuning-
ham Group Architecture to
develop an affordable housing
project in Denver’s popular and
fast-growing Stapleton neighbor-
hood. NDHC, which has been build-
ing housing for low- to moderate-
income families since 1982, sought
to create an affordable housing
development that was undistin-
guishable from market-rate hous-
ing under Denver’s new Revolving
Affordable Housing Loan Fund.
Launched in 2015 to address the
city’s growing affordable housing
crisis, the program is funded by $6
million from the city and county of
Denver, $3 million from the Colorado
Department of Local Affairs and $1
million from the Colorado Housing
of Finance Authority.
The result is Northfield at Staple-
ton Apartments, an 84-unit, energy-
efficient development that not only
provides affordable housing, but also
presents a welcoming and inviting
face to the community.
• Encouraging healthy living. I
joined Cuningham Group in 2015,
just as the project received funding
after a two-year approval process.
Affordable housing projects are dif-
ferent than market-rate develop-
ments in that they provide family
friendly amenities and typically
have a larger ratio of two- to three-
bedroom units.
Early in our collaborative plan-
ning process, NDHC underscored
the importance of designing an
energy-efficient development. Not
only does a green
building reduce
impacts on human
health and the
environment, but
also it keeps utility
costs minimal for
the development’s
occupants.
In addition to
incorporating sus-
tainability features,
NDHC developers
desired specific
design details that
would increase
the livability of its
units. Specifically,
they wanted the units to “live big” by
featuring tall ceilings and large win-
dows. The project also emphasizes
healthy living and each unit features
efficient kitchen designs with dining
tables to encourage families to gath-
er for meals. The development also
includes pedestrian walkways and
a center courtyard to provide a safe
retreat from busy adjacent streets
and space for large playgrounds,
outdoor cooking and gardening.
• Team approach. Thanks to a great
partnership with NDHC throughout
the design process, the project pro-
gressed smoothly, and together we
started the planning phase for a new
project. Soon, however, NDHC made
the decision to fast track the project
in order to reduce costs amid con-
cerns of possible lending delays and
interest rate hikes. At this point, not
only was our timeframe significantly
shortened, but also construction was
over budget. Our team developed a
new project schedule that started
from the back end to help us pre-
pare for possible delays in the city’s
review process.
Over the next few months, the
Erik Okland,
AIA, NCARB,
LEED AP BD+C
Associate principal,
Cuningham Group
Architecture,
Denver
Ross Copperthwaite
Northfield at Stapleton Apartments was funded under Denver’s new Revolving
Affordable Housing Loan Fund.