H3C Urban Mixed-Use and Affordable Housing
Size of Project
210,000 SF
Number of Units
192
Location
New Orleans, LA
Owner
Gulf Coast Housing Partnership
Industry
Type
New Construction
Status
In Progress
Architect
CCIWIV Architecture LLC
Overview
Culture, commerce, and community.
People make a city. Without them, there’d be no New Orleans. It’s what makes housing and healthcare so important. Gulf Coast Community Housing Partnership (GCHP) looked to further prove that affordable housing with accessible healthcare can enhance health outcomes and sustain a community. Brought on as Lead Contractor, Impetus was tasked with developing and constructing a 210,000 sq. ft. three-building housing complex with 192 units located in the former parking lot of Brown’s Dairy—92 of those reserved for residents aged 55 or older and eligible for Medicaid. H3C derives its name from Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard and the corridor’s longstanding principles of culture, commerce, and community. Kicking off, the Impetus preconstruction team faced a unique test, navigating more than just planning and pricing, but the volatile supply market impacting projects nationwide. However, at Impetus, we know that thinking forward begets building forward.
Connected in a remarkable way.
Kicking off the project, the Impetus team demolished the existing concrete parking lot and removed it. The team then extracted over 2,500 cubic yards of dirt spoil that rested beneath the concrete. Beginning construction, a concrete podium foundation was laid—poured at night to avoid traffic delays. To support it, 609 auger-cast piles were drilled into the ground, with timber piles driven as well. The creation of the complex itself was based on a vision that included common areas, along with a selection of one, two, and three-bedroom residences. Though built separately, they were connected in a remarkable way. The Impetus team built a 7,500 sq. ft. terrace on the second floor to connect the buildings and provide an open greenspace-like area with bridges wrapped with a mesh panel for foliage to grow on.
First Fitwel-certified building in Louisiana.
Every project takes on a distinct character. Aside from design and construction, H3C was unique in its practicality for future residents using a health-driven design. Working with CCWIVArchitects, this project would be the first Fitwel-certified building in Louisiana. Fitwel, a building rating system created by the CDC, guides building design and operations to improve the overall health of the occupants. For the Impetus construction team, it meant meeting defined rating scores for each building’s thermal envelope, as well as maintaining inspections for green building standards, and handling the constructability of the design’s accessible layout of stairs, ramps, and walkways. Along with its health-focused goal, the building would still need to defend itself against flooding. A permeable parking lot was installed as both a “green element” and a mechanism to limit water intrusion. The porous quality of the lot allows stormwater to filter through a series of stones and a geotextile grid, slowing rainwater’s movement and catching impurities before draining into the city’s water system.
Sustaining New Orleans’ citizens.
The New Orleans community has no comparison. Affordable housing and accessible healthcare are essential to upholding it for years to come. H3C will change what it means to have access to both. But it’s only the beginning. You need a team of builders that can elevate the construction process and navigate it intuitively through preconstruction—anticipating the challenges of labor, materials, and the random obstacles that roll in on any given day. H3C isn’t just a new set of 192 units for the city. It’s the opportunity to age in place. It’s healthcare delivered to those who need it most. It’s a community center uplifting residents. It’s sustaining New Orleans citizens in a vital neighborhood. And for Impetus, it’s another opportunity to take care of our home.
