REACH CDC Opens Affordable, Innovative Passive House Development

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REACH CDC

Jun 23, 2015, 03:00 ET


Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) June 23, 2015 -- REACH CDC is proud to welcome Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici to celebrate the grand opening of Orchards at Orenco, a new development located at the Orenco Station in Hillsboro, Oregon. Orchards at Orenco Phase I is the largest multi-family building built to Passive House energy standards in North America. Orchards is 57 unit affordable building which recently won the Portland Business Journal’s Better Bricks Sustainable Project of the Year award for its commitment to green technology and energy efficiency.

The celebration takes place on Monday, June 29th from 10:30 to 12:00 pm at 6520 NE Cherry Dr., Hillsboro, Oregon. In addition to keynote Bonamici, REACH will welcome State Representative Joe Gallegos, Hillsboro Mayor Jerry Willey, and Executive Director of Passive House US Katrin Klingenberg. REACH will receive their official Passive House certification at the ceremony.

The Orchards at Orenco is the largest multi-family building built to Passive House energy standards in North America. Tenants will receive unprecedented savings on their energy bills, achieving nearly 90% energy reduction for heat usage and 60-70% for overall energy use as compared to a LEED Certified building. Key innovative features include:

  • The roof has 12 inches of insulation, which is approximately quadruple the amount required by code. The light color reflects solar radiation and helps moderate the building’s temperature.
  • The building is positioned with shading devices that allow winter sun but block it in the summer.
  • The building contains a “heat recovery ventilator,” which uses stale air from kitchens and bathrooms to warm fresh incoming air supplied to bedrooms.
  • PVC-fiberglass hybrid windows throughout have argon-filled triple glazing and are designed to close tighter than most common models.
  • Walls have 10-inch stud cavities, compared to six-inch stud cavities in typical buildings.
  • The building rests on a super-insulated envelope of four inches of foam under the ground floor slab.

“Affordable housing helps people get ahead,” says Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “A quality home provides residents with stability and allows them to focus on work and raising a family. I’m thrilled to see Orchards at Orenco opening in Hillsboro. Thanks to REACH and all of the partners for making this a reality.”

Orchards is part of a three phase project. During June, REACH will break ground on Phase II, a 58-unit building located on land adjacent to Phase I. Phase II has an estimated twelve month construction period. The development team on Phase I included Walsh Construction Co.; Ankrom Moisan Architects (of record); William Wilson Architects (of design); Housing Development Center; Green Hammer, Inc.; Housing Authority of Washington County; and PHIUS (Passive House Institute of the United States). The $14.56 project is financed with funding from Wells Fargo, the Community Housing Fund, Meyer Memorial Trust, Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH), Oregon Housing and Community Services, NeighborWorks® America, and the Washington County Office of Community Development.

About REACH CDC
For 33 years, REACH has built innovative and affordable housing for low-income families and individuals in Oregon and Washington. REACH develops and manages affordable housing and provides supportive services to our residents, as well as free home repairs to senior homeowners. Today, REACH’s portfolio includes 1,892 units of single family homes, apartment buildings, and mixed-use developments. REACH has won numerous state and national awards for its creative approach to building healthy communities and its innovative housing projects. More information at http://reachcdc.org.

Laura Recko, REACH CDC, http://www.reachcdc.org, +1 (971) 277-7175, [email protected]