Home Forward Sellwood Center

Holst has worked with Home Forward on renovating and preserving its portfolio of existing affordable housing buildings, with a particular focus on those serving our community’s most vulnerable populations. One of the first renovations was at Sellwood Center, a 110-unit affordable housing project.

Sellwood Center's revitalization focused on creating a more compatible relationship with the surrounding context, a stronger connection to the community, and making functional improvements for the health and safety of residents, the neighborhood, and the environment.

To extend the life of the building, the HVAC system, windows, and building envelope were replaced with high-efficiency versions. Improved insulation and air tightness of roofs and walls; heat recovery ventilation; new solar hot water systems; and new LED lighting increased the energy efficiency reduced operating costs. Stormwater is now managed on site through vegetation roofs and bio-swale planters, and plumbing fixtures were installed for ultra-low-flow.

To better suit the surrounding context and continue to foster a connection with the neighborhood, the pedestrian zone was thoughtfully restored with enhanced entries, increased glazing, and revitalized vegetation.