The Plaza Apartments
One of the first permanent supportive housing projects in San Francisco, the Plaza Apartments combine retail spaces, a black-box community theater, support services, and amenities for dual-diagnosis residents along with 106 affordable mini-studio apartments.
On the ground level, an entry to the theater and retail space along two street fronts engage and encourage foot traffic. The entry lobby and community space open onto a landscaped courtyard to create an active indoor/outdoor space.
The eight upper floors, arranged into a pinwheel plan around the elevators and stair core, feature corridors with ample natural light and views to the exterior. Within individual units and community spaces, low-VOC and recyclable materials create a healthy environment, particularly important for the building’s vulnerable population. And on the exterior, the concrete structure serves as a gridded framework within which plywood panels in varying colors create a rich and active facade.
Designed by PTA/LMS In Association
Awards
AIA, National Honor Award, 2009
AIA, National Housing Award, 2007
AIA San Francisco, Excellence in Architecture Honor Award, 2007
AIA California Council, Design Merit Award for Architecture, 2006
AIA East Bay, Exceptional Residential Bay Area Design Award, Merit Award, 2006
AIA, National “Show Your Green” Award for Sustainable Design, 2006
Credits
Photography by Tim Griffith