Sustainable Design Case Study: Viewfinder Apartments
Viewfinder Apartments integrates architecture, art, and localism to address socio-economic gaps and offer moments of healing and discovery for residents. Viewfinder is Earth Advantage Platinum Certified and features a 38.4kW rooftop PV array that, along with other performance measures, offsets 80% of annual house energy use. The design approach applies humble materials inventively to maximize the potential of both the interior and exterior. Its urban edge is balanced with oasis-like communal outdoor spaces which utilize the building’s form to shade residents from the summer sun.
AIA 2030 Commitment – Carbon Emissions Reduction Goals
Viewfinder meets the current AIA 2030 Commitment energy emissions reduction goal based on its actual performance from utility bill data. This equates to:
Courtyard Solar Analysis
Viewfinder’s massing is intentionally oriented to maximize courtyard shading during the hottest months of the year, providing residents with year-round communal outdoor space and maximizing passive sustainability strategies.
Key Performance Metrics
The following are key performance metrics that contribute to Viewfinder’s sustainable design and the building’s Earth Advantage Platinum certification.
Roof insulation 50% above energy code
100% LED lighting
Energy Star appliances
Ductless mini-split heat pumps
EV charging stations
38.4kW solar array
$100,470 Energy Trust of Oregon and Oregon Multifamily Energy Program incentives
