York Terrace Troutdale Apartments
Tucked in the hills at the mouth of the Columbia Gorge, York Terrace Apartments sits on a dynamic site that unites the surrounding neighborhood. The terraced property features three walk-up apartment buildings with 85 three-bedroom, two-bedroom, one-bedroom, and studio units. This walkable location in Old Town Troutdale fosters community among residents and neighbors, introducing new walking paths and community courtyards with playgrounds.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Troutdale, OR
OWNER
Home Forward
CONTRACTOR
Bremik
SIZE
69,327 SF
COMPLETED
2026
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
Earth Advantage Platinum
ADJACENCY
Located close to downtown, the site required a deliberate approach to adjacency. The apartments utilize strategically located parking and natural landscaping features to insulate the homes from the noise of the heavily trafficked roads that border the northern and western sides of the development. The east-facing community room communicates with Troutdale’s commercial downtown, providing residents with easy access to local institutions. At the center of the site, a playground, barbeque pit, and outdoor living room form a central hub for activity, complemented by the protected courtyard. The south building, located at the site’s highest point, utilizes an outdoor lift to provide universal access and link all levels of the community.
EMBRACING THE ENVIRONMENT
Troutdale is defined by its dramatic topography of stepping basalt columns and steep terraces, and locals are well acquainted with the intense winds funneled through the Gorge and river valleys. MWA’s design is both responsive and adaptive, prioritizing protection from the gusting winds, securing accessibility through the difficult terrain, and maximizing access to the abundant natural light. L-shaped massing protects the courtyards on the southern slope from wind while optimizing residents’ outdoor experience. The design strategy further embraces the terraced site by positioning the buildings to step with the hillside and function as retaining walls, delivering both environmental and cost efficiencies. The Earth Advantage Platinum certified design received the PGE Renewable Development Fund grant, and solar installation was funded through the Energy Trust of Oregon.
DESIGN
Trauma-informed design elements evoke local beauty by using natural materials and colors; the wood grill ceiling warms the space, while softly colored blues and greens support a tranquil atmosphere. A continuously folding roofline visually ties the three buildings together. By shifting and shearing the roofs from one building to another, the eye ‘fills in’ the roofs in the voids, conceptually perceiving one sweeping roof across the site. Perforated metal panels enclose the breezeways to protect from wind tunneling and are adorned with a decorative fish pattern to celebrate the region’s rivers and Troutdale’s identity as the “Gateway to the Gorge”. A unifying walkway slices through the sloped site, orienting residents toward the natural scenery while offering equitable access and stunning views.
