Welcome to the latest GGLO news.

Our client, King County Housing Authority, recently announced that Sixth Place Apartments (aka Greenbridge 5) is home to the largest residential photovoltaic array in Washington. Funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds and solar tax credits, the 52.2 kilowatt array is expected to generate 52,558 kilowatt hours per year after going online this summer.

Senior Associate Jon Hall, project manager for Sixth Place Apartments, was quoted in the release from KCHA:

"We're delighted that the installation of the solar array can be completed concurrently with the construction of the Sixth Place Apartments. This is just one of the many strategies we employed in this sustainably designed project to increase energy efficiency."

The Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, West Seattle Herald, CNBC, Solar Washington, Solar Energy Industries Association newsletter, Sun Herald and International Business Times are just a few of the news sources sharing the story.

Today's Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce features an article, by GGLO's own Amy Hartwell, on Seattle Housing Authority's cost-effective renovations of its existing senior housing for greater energy efficiency and resident comfort. SHA is working with RDH Building Sciences and GGLO on several buildings in its portfolio. Based on criteria from Washington's Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard, the renovations focus on improving thermal, air tightness and moisture performance, resulting in greater endurance, better operation and increased comfort. Additionally, Amy notes, the upgrades better equip the buildings to "contribut[e] to the fabric of their communities through thoughtful architectural design and color palettes, and sustainable building practices."

GGLO project Schwabacher House, an SHA affordable senior housing building in Ballard, is one of seven properties that have undergone renovation. Residents are pleased with the "beautiful building" and enjoy living in a place that "looks like an expensive condominium." Job well done!

Pre-renovation, Schwabacher House, built in the 1980s, faced water damage and window failure.
After renovation, Schwabacher House features new siding and windows along with an updated color palette.

With growing concerns over climate change, the popularity of modular housing has been on the rise as a sustainable solution to reduce the impact of development. And with the time, energy and money savings by using modules, it’s also becoming an affordable solution, particularly for affordable housing projects.

The Tacoma Housing Authority hopes to save as much as 15 percent using modular components on its Hillsdale Heights housing community, which GGLO is designing. See release. Absher Construction of Puyallup and Boise-based modular fabricator Guerdon Enterprises are also part of the project team.

The modular development will include 60 apartments, 50 townhomes, a commons facility and green space.