Eastern Village Cohousing in Silver Spring, Maryland was SDC’s first start-to-finish consulting project. Designed by EDG Architects and developed by Eco-Housing Corporation with Poretsky Builders, this adaptive reuse of an existing, U-shaped, concrete-framed office building challenged the status quo for multi-unit residential construction on several sustainability fronts. The developers involved future residents in the design of the project, adding green features including a front façade with sun-shading, a vegetated roof to control stormwater, provide thermal protection and add some much-needed green space to the roof, an energy-efficient, ground-source heating and cooling system, and flooring materials made from rapidly renewable materials. Having recently attained LEED Silver-level certification – making it the first-ever LEED-certified cohousing building – it then won the 2006 Green Roof Award of Excellence for the Extensive Residential category: “Established in 2003 by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the Green Roof Awards of Excellence recognize leadership in integrated design and implementation of green roof projects.” For more information on Eastern Village Cohousing, its green roof, and some of its awards, please see:
2006 Green Roof Awards of Excellence