Helen Drake Senior Village

As part of the City of Phoenix’s effort to address rising challenges of housing affordability they have embarked on a comprehensive initiative to leverage surplus public land to develop new affordable housing.

The Helen Drake Senior Village proposes to redevelop the vacant half of the property of a vibrant senior center to develop multiple residential buildings to establish an inclusive affordable community for Phoenix’s elders. The first phase of development includes 80 affordable homes for seniors, with future phases anticipated to expand available dwelling units. The three-story apartment building is designed around a pair of courtyards and mini-park shared by the existing senior center and new residential structure. The architecture of the building compliments the blend of contemporary and traditional elements from the Helen Drake senior center while anchoring the northwest corner of the emerging village. The building is also designed to address excessive heat conditions with thoughtful solar orientation and integrated shade elements into the architecture. The site design for the first is intended to create a cohesive landscape between the Helen Drake senior center and first development while establishing the framework for future phases. This includes designing integrated pedestrian pathways, vehicle access and parking, and open spaces to evolve over time as new buildings are introduced. The design bolsters the rich, arid landscape while adding substantial shade trees and opportunities for gardening amongst residents and visitors to Helen Drake, creating shared spaces among seniors.