Modern Richardson Apartments Provide Low Income Housing In the Heart of San Francisco

The striking <a href="http://www.dbarchitect.com/project_detail/117/Richardson%20Apartments.html#project_details" target="_blank">Richardson Apartments</a> comprise an ultra modern residential complex just a stone's throw from away from San Francisco's majestic city hall. Designed by <a href="http://www.dbarchitect.com/" target="_blank">David Baker + Partners</a>, the five story building provides low income housing and mixed use retail for the dense transit-oriented Market + Octavia Neighborhood, providing 120 permanent, supportive residential studio units for adults coming out of or at risk for homelessness. The mixed use project also includes a health clinic, retail space, a large private courtyard, common rooms and a green roof and deck. Designed with guidance from the <a href="http://www.builditgreen.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=greenpoint" target="_blank">Build It Green GreenPoint Rated</a> and <a href="http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/" target="_blank">Green Communities</a> checklists, the apartments also have plenty of sustainable features.

<a href="http://www.chp-sf.org/housing_current.html" target="_blank">Richardson Apartments</a> by <a href="http://www.dbarchitect.com/" target="_blank">David Baker + Partners</a> is named in honor of Drs. Julian and Raye Richardson, local activists and founders of Marcus Books, the oldest black bookstore in the country, founded in 1960.

Located on Fulton Street and blocks away from the city hall, the building takes over a former parking lot, which was one of the sites freed for development by the demolition of the collapsed Central Freeway.

The apartments provide much needed supportive housing for San Francisco's homeless population and works to encourage a pedestrian, bike and transit friendly neighborhood.

While the building itself is 65,000 sq ft, it is designed to look like a series of varied structures rather than one large one to break up the view from the street.

The ground floor houses a resident entrance lobby, retail space, a common lounge, a common mixed purpose room with a kitchen and a community health clinic.

No car parking is provided, but plenty of secure bike parking is available

The large private courtyard for residents' use.

The entrance lobby.

Community lounge.

Community room with an attached kitchen.

Above the ground floor are 120 studio apartments furnished with basic necessities like a bed, dresser, a full kitchenette, an accessible or adaptable bathroom, and a secure telephone line to the front desk.

Richardson Apartments were designed using the guidelines of <a href="http://www.builditgreen.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=greenpoint" target="_blank">Build It Green GreenPoint Rated</a> and <a href="http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/" target="_blank">Green Communities</a>. Sustainable features of the project include the use of reclaimed woods, a purifying bioswale in the court, and sunshades.

The roof includes a living roof, allotment garden plots, solar arrays, seating and City Hall views. The project received its GreenPoint certification in February of 2012.