The project was initiated as an AIA Philadelphia Community Design Collaborative effort that paired architects with neighborhood groups with the goal of generating creative responses to affordable housing. Asociacion de Puertorriquenos en Marcha (APM), has developed dozens of housing units over the past decade and was looking to diversify their development offerings as the neighborhood, on the fringes of Temple University and Northern Liberties, continues to transform rapidly. The charge of the architect, Interface Studio, LLC, was to design 13 units of affordable, environmentally sustainable housing. The project began as a pro bono effort in collaboration with the Community Design Collaborative and then received pre-development dollars from PNDC (Philadelphia Neighborhood Development Collaborative) and the Home Depot Foundation.

Sustainability was explored in the broadest sense, considering how the project might support the long-term environmental, economic and social health of the neighborhood. This strategy included supporting urban linkages between the neighborhood and Temple University, working to integrate the adjacent blocks with the new project, and to develop a technical approach to green architecture.

We took a very pragmatic approach to the floor plans as we attempted to achieve efficiency and quality of space within a small footprint. We created a simple, prototypical housing box based loosely on the dimensions of a typical Philadelphia rowhouse. The module emphasizes daylight, flexibility, and is regular enough to make pre-fabrication an option for construction. The architectural image of the project

A guiding architectural goal was to design a highly affordable and efficient building so that savings can be applied to green technology elements that help reduce monthly energy bills for homeowners. Research was undertaken to define the most effective combination of green technologies. The criteria forselection was always to emphasize energy bill reduction. Sustainably harvested, recycled, and local materials are being specified throughout the site and the buildings. We anticipate that using modular construction will reduce construction costs by 10% freeing up funds within the $225,000 fixed allotment per home to be put into highly efficient green technologies like a Thermomax solar hot water panel, geothermal heat pumps and Energy Star compliant appliances and windows.

2. Judging Criteria

The Sheridan Street Housing project raises the bar for how we think about affordable housing in Philadelphia. It proposes an innovative response to the vacant land problem of North Philadelphia, inventively marries green building with affordability through good design, and presents an adventurous architectural aesthetic to the affordable market giving choice to buyers at all income levels.

The project pushes boundaries on a number of fronts. First, it challenges expectations of what affordable housing can be. It asserts that it can be "cool" and "fun" while remaining functional, resilient, and flexible. Second, it looks to find a compelling architectural identity within the unique constraints of doing green and affordable. Rather than attempting to mask the house in suburban-looking imagery - it seeks to make something special out of the program. In particular it capitalizes on the nuances of the modular pre-fab process to bring a unique aesthetic character to the buildings. Third, the site plan tackles the North Philadelphia vacant land problem head on. It balances the need for houses, yards and off-street parking to share a very difficult 40'x450' site by creating a pattern of interlocking L-shaped buildings. The project looks to prove that there are important design opportunities to be uncovered in these environments.

The environmental performance of these buildings is very high. The MEP engineers (Bruce Brooks and Associates) estimate that they will be 30-40% more efficient than a standard Energy Star compliant building. This "green building" solution demonstrates an important model for building housing for the greater Philadelphia region. In doing so it looks to unique materials such as a slate-like fiber cement cladding panel, a richly textured exterior grade plywood cladding panel, bamboo hardwood floors and a generous third-floor terrace.

The partnerships throughout the project have been important. The non-profit developer and architect worked in a highly collaborative open-minded process that brought highly innovative results. The experience of the developer (having built dozens of affordable housing units over the past two decades) kept the project rooted in the real concerns of their development model, but suppor

3. Results
The project - though still awaiting actual construction - has created a good deal of buzz. It has received two prestigious design awards; the AIA Philadelphia Silver Medal 2006 (http://www.aiaphiladelphia.org/news_design/ ) and a 2007 Merit Award from Residential Architect Magazine (www.residentialarchitect.com ). It is unusal that either of these awards go to affordable housing projects.

We think of the project as a prototype solution for good quality housing for all incomes, as well as a low-impact environmental solution. The building industry consumes a gigantic share of our nation's energy appetite and in a small way this project tries to point the way toward a simple, replicable solution with its low-energy, compact design. The modular production model points to the potential for such a solution to be manufactured in volume.

Interestingly, market-rate developers have been intrigued by the Sheridan Street Housing project and the architect's are now working to adapt the thinking to other types of models for other types of buyer's that maintain a commitment to environmental stewardship.