Interdisciplinary Cal Poly Team Takes Second in Low-Income Housing Challenge

SAN LUIS OBISPO – An interdisciplinary team of Cal Poly students took second place in Bank of America’s Low-Income Housing Challenge.
The Cal Poly team partnered with EAH Housing of San Rafael to create a physical and financial proposal for Broadway Village: a 70-unit, multifamily, mixed-use development near downtown Oakland. The project was geared toward larger, low-income families with a minor emphasis on housing individuals with HIV/AIDS.

The driving force behind the Broadway Village project was to jump-start the revitalization of the Broadway/Valdez corridor in Oakland by setting a high standard of development. The one-acre, mixed-use development was designed to support current and future needs of low-income families housing in Oakland. The development qualified for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification.

The team was comprised of 13 students from six departments. Team members included eight students working toward bachelor degrees in Architecture, City and Regional Planning, Construction Management, and Landscape Architecture, as well as five graduate students in Business and City and Regional Planning.

The full project proposal and a short video on the project can be viewed at: www.polyhousingcollaborative.com.

About the Bank of America Low-Income Housing Challenge:
The competition requires student teams to develop concepts, designs, community support and financing for housing projects that are affordable for low-income households. The proposals are evaluated on concept and design as well as financial feasibility. Bank of America sponsors the competition to encourage emerging leaders in the fields of architecture, business and city planning to pursue careers in affordable housing.

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