BROADWAY STUDENT HOUSING

Sustainable Student Housing Solution for PSU

Portland State University needed affordable student housing near campus to be thought of as a full-service urban university. Unfortunately, rising property costs made it difficult to build near its campus in downtown Portland. By working with the City of Portland and PSU we were able to purchase the land, arrange the financing and coordinate the design and construction of this unique development.

To make the project financially feasible, we needed an innovative program. From the architect and contractor, to the mechanical and electrical engineers, to the students themselves, the project team pursued a design process to make Broadway Housing a model for mixed-use urban design. Broadway Housing offers students common areas on alternate floors to promote interaction and retail options on the first floor. The top eight floors feature 383 residential units, while the second level houses classrooms, conference rooms, a 24-hour computer laboratory and departmental offices.

The Office of Sustainable Development bestowed its 2005 BEST Award to Broadway Housing. Designed to use more than 30 percent less energy than Oregon energy code, sustainable elements include operable windows, honed concrete floors, a waste heat recovery system for hot water heating, high-efficiency glazing, increased wall insulation, low-flow plumbing fixtures, the largest ecoroof in the city (which the students monitor as part of their studies) and bike parking for 63 percent of the students.