E+ Highland
Roxbury, MA
Working with Rees-Larkin Development, Studio G Architects is designing an energy-positive project in Roxbury’s Highland Park neighborhood -- designed to produce more energy than will be consumed on an annual basis. Our project was selected by the City of Boston and the neighborhood as part of Boston’s Energy Positive (E+) Green Building Program. The 23-unit elevator building will restore the urban fabric and contribute to the residential character of Highland Street and the neighborhood.
E+Highland uses Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). The 100% affordable Limited Equity Cooperative offers 3 units at 30% AMI and 20 units at 60% AMI, providing broader and deeper affordability than City of Boston requirements.
The 4-story multifamily building will house 4 1BR, 15 2BR, and 4 3BR units. The corner entry angles toward the Marcella Playground, with a plaza leading to a glazed lobby, stairs and first floor artist work/gallery space. Partial below grade parking takes advantage of and mitigates the significant grade change across the site. The building’s masonry and wood-like materials palette reduces the apparent mass and reflects the traditional materials used in the Highland Park neighborhood.
The design reinforces community connections on one of Boston’s famous hills with new community amenities. The artist work/gallery space responds to a community request for artist space, coupled with the entry plaza it offers a gathering space for the community and residents. A new path will provide a much-desired pedestrian connection to Marcella St and the park at the top of the hill.
The building will be energy positive annually, contributing surplus clean energy to the power grid or a community micro-grid. Building facades are shaded by deep roof overhangs, which provide additional roof area for rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels. The building envelope is optimized following Passive House principles to create an extremely comfortable living environment. Right-sized mechanical and plumbing systems significantly reduce heating and cooling loads while providing superb indoor air quality. PV panels will generate more electricity than residents’ annual needs. The project will surpass LEED Platinum and is expected to produce over 95 kWh of renewable energy. E+ Highland is an International Living Futures Institute Living Building Challenge Affordable Housing Pilot program project.