El Cerrito Multifamily Housing, a mixed-use healthcare and housing project built with prefabricated modular units, is called “a shining example of the impact we can make on the world."
El Cerrito, an innovative supportive housing project built with customized shipping containers, received a Sustainable Marvel Award from the San Diego Green Building Council in the 2024 Sustainability Awards.
The Family Health Centers of San Diego’s mixed-use project takes aim at health inequity and homelessness, with 172 units of affordable and supportive housing and an expansive community health clinic, in addition to retail and parking. LPA’s design focuses on cutting carbon emissions and enhancing the well-being of residents. Single-use steel containers are repurposed as finished housing modules, cutting embodied carbon, while passive and high-tech design strategies minimize energy use. A wealth of rooftop amenities benefit from strategic shading, prevailing breezes and views while creating a strong sense of community.
"The project is a shining example of the positive impact we can make on the world," commented a representative from the San Diego Green Building Council.
Central to the project's success are its innovative energy reduction strategies. Passive design features such as heavily insulated modules, natural ventilation, daylighting and solar heat gain controls reduce the need for air conditioning. A centralized Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system and all-electric heat pump boiler system provide highly efficient cooling, while photovoltaic panels and solar thermal systems provide onsite energy generation.
“El Cerrito shows the power of integrated design to create remarkable environments that make positive impacts in the community while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving human health,” said LPA Design Director Matthew Porreca.
Designers employed biophilia throughout the project’s public spaces to enhance resident health. Rooftop gardens and vegetated decks promote biodiversity, reduce heat gain, and collect stormwater. The exterior circulation system encourages physical activity and social interaction, enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.
El Cerrito shows the power of integrated design to create remarkable environments that make positive impacts in the community while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving human health”
— Matthew Porreca, LPA Design Director
The design seamlessly integrates into its diverse neighborhood context, with the upper five floors of the eight-level structure broken up into four “fingers” that break down the building’s scale. Entry courtyards and balconies foster connections with the community, while the facade design, inspired by the shipping container module, adds texture and scale to the streetscape.
With a Green Point - Platinum rating, the project exceeds performance benchmarks, aiming for a 70% reduction below Title 24 and 86.6% below the AIA 2030 Challenge benchmark. As an all-electric development, it advances carbon neutrality goals, setting a precedent for sustainable urban living.
