26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
26 Point 2 Apartments
Where oil tanks and industrial infrastructure meet a low-scale residential area in Long Beach, California, the 26 Point 2 Apartments supportive housing complex rises as a study in transitions. Along the Pacific Coast Highway to the north, a squared-off volume emulates the aesthetic of nearby commercial buildings, while the eastern facade steps down in pitched forms that playfully echo the gabled roofs of the single-family neighbourhood beyond.
26 Point 2 refers to the number of miles in a marathon, alluding to life’s journey and the obstacles along the way. And the five-storey building’s residents are also in transition. Formerly unhoused, they’ve now settled into an architecture purpose-built for community, including a roof deck overlooking an open-air central courtyard. The building’s main volumes float above grade on a series of columns, freeing up the ground level as a shared plaza, with parking spaces for staff since most residents don’t own cars.
Cheery colour visually links the building to the commercial strip outside while delineating zones. A dusty-rose staircase rises up the eastern tower, a bright green amenity area tucked under the western and southern volumes houses multi-purpose common rooms and support service offices, and blue open-air corridors outside the studio units reflect the sky. Glazed panels at grade keep residents safe while opening views to the busy boulevard. With laundry facilities, a mailroom and an on-site manager, the site offers residents a stable environment in which to rebuild their lives.
Michael Maltzan Architecture delivered the complex for affordable housing firm Excelerate Housing Group’s inaugural development. The 77-unit building is LEED Gold–certified, incorporating solar hot water, high-efficiency conditioning systems, natural ventilation, stormwater treatment tanks and drought-tolerant landscaping. “By coupling social sustainability with environmental responsibility,” the firm explains, “the project demonstrates that housing for marginalized communities need not compromise on quality, design excellence, or environmental stewardship.”
Team: Michael Maltzan, Tim Williams, Ben Ruswick, Yun Yun, Khoa Vu and Sharon Xu (Michael Maltzan Architecture); KPFF Engineering; Labib Funk and Associates; Donald F. Dickerson Associates; OMB Electrical Engineers; Tina Chee Landscape Studio; AWC West; D7 Consulting; Simpson Gumpertz & Heger; Partner Energy; Benchmark Contractors
