
Wiemann Lamphere Architects recently worked in association with Housing Vermont (HVT) and the Addison County Community Trust (ACCT) to develop a twelve-acre parcel of land within walking distance to downtown, schools and retail shopping outlets. The development, designed as a sustainable community, provides 28 units of affordable workforce housing, a child-care facility managed by the Mary Johnson Child Care Center as well as 25 senior living units including a senior center.
The key factor in creating a sustainable community is its connectivity to the infrastructure, as well as the proximity to existing schools, shopping and municipal transportation. All opportunities to reinforce this connectivity to the surrounding community have been looked at closely and strengthened at every stage in the development of the master plan.
Shown is Phase 1, which is 25 units of perpetually affordable independent senior housing. The design features a robust building envelope, a solar domestic hot water system, and a bio-mass boiler. Each of the units includes a central air conditioning system and space for community activities and serves as a distribution point for meals on wheels.