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
CATHEDRAL VILLAGE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS
The Willamette River and the hills of Forest Park are the backdrops for Cathedral Village, a 110-unit affordable apartment building in Portland’s St. Johns neighborhood. Cathedral Village is a catalyst project transitioning the area from an industrial riverfront to a vibrant residential neighborhood. The project supports families, with half of the units being two- and three-bedroom apartments and a variety of community spaces designed to promote connections.
PROJECT CONTACT
LOCATION
Portland, OR
OWNER
Catholic Charities
DEVELOPER
Related Northwest
CONTRACTOR
LMC Construction
SIZE
94,535 SF
COMPLETED
2022
SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS
Earth Advantage Platinum
Full Solar Array
AWARDS
2023 AIA Oregon Architecture Award – Merit Award
2023 DJC Top Projects, 3rd Place: Affordable Housing
2023 DJC Building Diversity Award
PHOTOGRAPHER
Lara Swimmer
THE GROWING COMMUNITY OF ST JOHNS
The growing community of St. Johns is working to create a thriving riverfront and increase affordable housing opportunities. The previously industrial site commands views of the historic St. John’s Bridge and is a block from Cathedral Park, home of the annual Jazz festival. The client’s driving vision was to ensure that Cathedral Village reflects the musical culture of the community.
The new building creates a strong street edge and cradles a southwest-facing courtyard, providing bridge and river views for residents. A large community room opens to the courtyard plaza. Resident services and management offices anchor the ground floor street corner, with an adjacent music room and teen room activating the street, celebrated with a tall mural.
A flexible community room flanking the courtyard fosters community gatherings and provides a venue for resident music performances.
CONTEXTUAL INSPIRATION
Inspired by the railroad tracks that run along the western property line and the Pacific Northwest landscape, Cathedral Village’s plan reflects the movement of a turning train car as it cants open to the hills at the riverfront, bringing daylight into the corridor.
Along the façade, stacking horizontal train cars inspired the alternating 2-story bays that dance around the corner of the building along the major streetscapes.
The acoustic challenges of the nearby railroad tracks were resolved with a brick façade. The brick was installed economically in offset vertical panels, rhythmically animating the façade with a nod to the neighborhood’s musical history. The rust-colored brick continues to reflect the saturated colors of PNW train cars.
The mix of brick and metal composite siding reflects the property’s industrial past as the area transitions to a residential neighborhood.
COMMUNITY
With art and music as a cornerstone of St. Johns’ culture, the client used this as the avenue in which to engage with the community. Partnering with the local non-profit VIBE of Portland, Cathedral Village incorporates a music studio in the community space where an instructor will help kids record music.
A flexible community room flanking the courtyard fosters community gatherings and provides a venue for resident music performances.
SPACIOUS APARTMENTS FOR FAMILIES
Cathedral Village’s Apartments are built for families. Resident Services offices partner with the community spaces on the ground floor to support families.
50% of the apartments are two- and three-bedroom family units with a large kitchen and ample storage space.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Awarded with the PGE Renewable Development Fund, Cathedral Village received a full solar array and is certified as Earth Advantage Platinum.
