Orchards at Orenco: Largest Passive House Affordable Multi-Family Project

REACH Community Development continues its affordable home-building program with the launch of its Orchards at Orenco project this month at Hillsboro’s Orenco Station.

REACH, a nonprofit with nearly 1,900 units of affordable housing, is beginning construction of the 57-unit first phase of Orchards at Orenco, a three-building complex that will eventually provide about 150 units affordable housing.]

Phase 1 will serve families earning 50 percent or less of the area median family income, or about $30,000.

The Orchards will be constructed to Passive House standards and is the largest multifamily Passive House building in the country.

The project is designed by William Wilson Architects and Ankrom Moisan Architects; and Green Hammer is the Passive House Consultant.

The $14.5 million project is financed with $9 million in tax credits purchased by Wells Fargo Bank, a $2.4 million permanent loan with Oregon state credits and contributions from the Washington County, Meyer Memorial Trust, Energy Trust of Oregon and NeighborWorks America.

Key Passive House features include:

  • The roof will have 12 inches of insulation, about four times what is required. The light color will reflect solar radiation and help moderate the building temperature.
  • PVC-fiberglass hybrid windows will have argon-filled triple pane glazing and are designed to close tighter than more common models.
  • The building is positioned to keep the building comfortable in summer months with shading devices that allow winter sun but block it in the summer.
  • The building’s super-insulated envelope includes four inches of foam insulation under the ground floor slab.

WALSH is proud to be partnering with REACH on the largest multifamily Passive House building in the country!