Co-Design of a Sustainable Affordable Housing Demonstration Project

Housing affordability is a rising concern for many Americans, especially those of modest needs. The design and construction of energy and resource-conscious environmentally sustainable homes that are affordable in the short- and long-term are a paramount challenge. A Community Land Trust (CLT) is a private, non-profit organization whose goal is to acquire and hold land for the benefit of the community and to provide secure affordable access to land and housing for community residents.

The mission of the State College Community Land Trust (SCCLT) is to “support vibrant neighborhoods by creating and maintaining sustainable housing opportunities for families and individuals who value living in the Borough of State College”, a neighborhood with scarce opportunity for affordable, owner-occupied housing. Through a partnership with the Energy Efficient Housing Research Group (EEHR), an outreach arm of the Penn State College of Arts and Architecture Hamer Center for Community Design, SCCLT is embarking on its first new building project – a zero energy-ready residential duplex on a highly visible site in the property-constrained Borough.

The duplex, once completed, will provide homes for two families of modest income and will be a demonstration of sustainable, affordable housing in the region. Fueled by challenges posed by the Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home program and Race to Zero student design competition, the “co-design” for the SCCLT GreenBuild demonstration project engages a diverse cross-disciplinary student and multiple faculty team with community housing and construction leaders in an educational exchange centered on ideals for improving housing performance and community.

Also Read: Single-Family Rentals: A New Approach to Affordable Housing