STEP UP HOUSING

The design for Step-Up Housing redefines the single-room occupancy (SRO) unit, striking a balance between the compactness of traditional SROs and the comfort of affordable studio apartments. Each micro-unit maximizes its small footprint with carefully integrated amenities: a foldable side table that tucks away to open circulation to the bed, a dedicated desk that supports residents’ professional growth, and a kitchenette efficiently fitted into a corner. A private, fully outfitted bathroom with a shower restores a sense of dignity often missing from SRO housing, where shared facilities are common.

By blending new technology with traditional methods, Step-Up Housing’s design and construction management teams were able to significantly reduce both construction costs and timelines. Instead of just focusing on material costs, which is common in conventional value engineering, they reoriented their approach to prioritize reducing labor costs, which often makes up more than two-thirds of a construction budget. They used multi-purpose materials to reduce the number of different skilled trades and labor hours needed, effectively halving installation time on each side of the building while meeting all fire-resistance and acoustic insulation requirements. The project team also reduced the building’s power consumption by over 400% by minimizing per-unit power needs, which they accomplished by combining architectural design thinking with utility and construction expertise. For instance, the team identified and were able to reduce three electric vaults to one, cutting many associated power costs with a 1200 amp 3 phase power.