Original Post Updated on 9/26/24
The construction of the SoLa Vermont Apartment Complex, a five-story mixed-income residential building, is underway within an opportunity zone in Los Angeles County, California.
The 51,100 square foot project includes 84 one-bedroom apartments, with 25% of the units designated affordable, including supportive housing for the homeless.
To expedite the timeline, the owner SoLa Impact specified the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing using modular construction for the project.
— Joe Cohen (@CohenSite) July 13, 2023
Steel Selected for Its Greater Longevity, Installation Ease
The Vermont Apartment Complex, designed by The Architects Collective, is currently being constructed with modular components built in a factory and installed on-site.
The design challenge was to develop a comfortable, 400-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment module that meets the stringent code requirements of the federal Section 8 housing voucher program. A significant design innovation is the use of CFS framing for modular construction, which offers greater longevity and ease of installation relative to typical wood-frame modules, says The Architects Collective website.
The L-shaped building will feature a lobby, a community room, a laundry facility and social services offices on its ground floor. Photo Credit: The Architects Collective
The L-shaped building will feature a lobby, a community room, a laundry facility and social services offices on its ground floor. A small parking lot is planned at the rear of the property.
SoLa Impact is also collaborating with The Architects Collective on plans for a similar mixed-income building near the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles.
A significant design innovation is the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing for modular construction, which offers greater longevity and ease of installation relative to typical wood-frame modules.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Owner: SoLa Impact
Designer: The Architects Collective,
Landscape: Harmony Gardens, Inc.
Location: 11001 S. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044
Units: 84 Units (20 Affordable, 1 Manager)
Density: 205 du/ac
Size: 51,116 GSF (32,676 Residential NSF)
Funding: Private
Status: In Construction (2025 estimated completion)
LA’s Largest Section 8 Landlord
Founded in 2015, SoLa Impact’s mission is to deliver financial returns by driving positive social change in America’s toughest neighborhoods, says the SoLa website.
Using a data-driven approach to its investment strategy as well as all social impact initiatives, SoLa Impact has become Los Angeles largest Section 8 landlord. SoLa currently owns and manages a portfolio of 1,500+ apartments in the greater South Los Angeles area.
The Steel Framing Advantage
Cold-formed steel (CFS) leads the way as the preferred framing material for prefabricated structures for multiple reasons. CFS is:
- A pre-engineered material that can be cut to exact lengths
- Dimensionally stable and does not expand or contract with changes in moisture content
- Lightweight compared to wood and concrete
- Resilient and will not warp, split, crack or creep when exposed to the elements
- Sustainable and 100% recyclable
- Durable and has a high tensile strength
- Non-combustible and is a safeguard against fire accidents
Additional Resources
- Steel Framing Featured in 47 Modular Housing Units for Senior Housing
- Steel, Modular Homes and an Opportunity to End the Housing Shortage
- Prefabrication Reaches Mainstream Status with Steel Framing