The Black Panther
Located in West Oakland, The Black Panther is a groundbreaking affordable housing community that supports very low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals. Working with local non-profit Oakland and the World Enterprise (OAW) and McCormack Barron Salazar (MBS), MWA helped design a five-story apartment building with residential, community, and commercial spaces. Situated just three blocks from BART, the development is a transit-oriented community with convenient access to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
OWNER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
DEVELOPER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
CONTRACTOR
Branagh Construction
SIZE
115,462 SF
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
2024
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
LEED Gold Certified
AWARDS
2023 AIA Merit Award
PHOTOGRAPHER
David Papazian
The Black Panther
The Black Panther
The Black Panther
The Black Panther
Located in West Oakland, The Black Panther is a groundbreaking affordable housing community that supports very low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals. Working with local non-profit Oakland and the World Enterprise (OAW) and McCormack Barron Salazar (MBS), MWA helped design a five-story apartment building with residential, community, and commercial spaces. Situated just three blocks from BART, the development is a transit-oriented community with convenient access to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
OWNER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
DEVELOPER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
CONTRACTOR
Branagh Construction
SIZE
115,462 SF
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
2024
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
LEED Gold Certified
AWARDS
2023 AIA Merit Award
PHOTOGRAPHER
David Papazian
Located in West Oakland, The Black Panther is a groundbreaking affordable housing community that supports very low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals. Working with local non-profit Oakland and the World Enterprise (OAW) and McCormack Barron Salazar (MBS), MWA helped design a five-story apartment building with residential, community, and commercial spaces. Situated just three blocks from BART, the development is a transit-oriented community with convenient access to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
OWNER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
DEVELOPER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
CONTRACTOR
Branagh Construction
SIZE
115,462 SF
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
2024
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
LEED Gold Certified
AWARDS
2023 AIA Merit Award
PHOTOGRAPHER
David Papazian
Located in West Oakland, The Black Panther is a groundbreaking affordable housing community that supports very low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals. Working with local non-profit Oakland and the World Enterprise (OAW) and McCormack Barron Salazar (MBS), MWA helped design a five-story apartment building with residential, community, and commercial spaces. Situated just three blocks from BART, the development is a transit-oriented community with convenient access to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
OWNER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
DEVELOPER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
CONTRACTOR
Branagh Construction
SIZE
115,462 SF
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
2024
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
LEED Gold Certified
AWARDS
2023 AIA Merit Award
PHOTOGRAPHER
David Papazian
Located in West Oakland, The Black Panther is a groundbreaking affordable housing community that supports very low-income and formerly incarcerated individuals. Working with local non-profit Oakland and the World Enterprise (OAW) and McCormack Barron Salazar (MBS), MWA helped design a five-story apartment building with residential, community, and commercial spaces. Situated just three blocks from BART, the development is a transit-oriented community with convenient access to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and the entire Bay Area.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Oakland, CA
OWNER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
DEVELOPER
Oakland and the World Enterprises Inc.
CONTRACTOR
Branagh Construction
SIZE
115,462 SF
ESTIMATED COMPLETION
2024
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
LEED Gold Certified
AWARDS
2023 AIA Merit Award
PHOTOGRAPHER
David Papazian
Terracina Vista Affordable Apartments
Terracina Vista Apartments responds to the growing need for affordable family housing in Gresham with a design rooted in connection, comfort, and community. Developed with USA Properties, this project contributes transit-oriented, affordable, family housing of 92 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments to Gresham, OR. The development places special emphasis on family-sized units, with three-bedroom layouts that offer flexibility and comfort for larger households.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Gresham, OR
DEVELOPER
USA Properties
CONTRACTOR
Walsh Construction
SIZE
94,735 SF
COMPLETED
2025
PHOTOGRAPHER
Sally Painter
TRANSIT-ORIENTED AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The site sits along the MAX light rail line, making it a walkable, transit-supported location. To meet zoning requirements and maximize livability, the design organizes two distinct courtyards: one facing Burnside Street as a landscaped public space that welcomes neighbors, and another at the rear as a semi-private community courtyard with a playground, barbecue, seating, and gathering areas.
Ground-floor patios connect directly to sidewalks, extending living spaces into the public realm and strengthening ties between residents and the neighborhood.
CONTEXTUAL INSPIRATION
Rooflines subtly echo the undulating pattern of the nearby MAX line, weaving the language of transit into the building’s form. A brick and board-and-batten siding distinguishes the Burnside frontage, while fiber-cement lap siding provides cost-effective durability on the private-facing sides.
Inside, Terracina Vista offers everyday amenities that support resident well-being, including a community room, resident services office, dog wash, and laundry rooms on every level.
The design embraces sustainability through Earth Advantage Gold certification, with careful material selection for long-term durability and low maintenance.
Salvaged trees from the site were repurposed as benches in the courtyards and lobby, rooting the project in its own landscape.
A SENSE OF HOME
Themes of home are embedded in everyday experiences: the warm wood soffits at the entry sequence and the courtyards that encourage play and social connection. Terracina Vista is a walkable, inclusive, and human-scaled community. By shaping spaces that support families, connect people to transit, and create opportunities for neighbors to gather, the project strengthens Gresham’s growing fabric of affordable, accessible housing.
