A dilapidated 1970's building in SE Portland gets a new lease on life as a modern, dog friendly apartment building. Sustainability on this project is achieved through site restoration, re-use of the existing building, sun shading, day lighting, new wall and roof insulation, and an extensive roof mounted photovoltaic solar array. The original flat roof of the building is restored and expanded to create a soaring two story steel framed south facing porch. The deep overhangs block the rain and the wood screen walls provide shade against the summer sun.

Due to the addition, each of the remodeled units has a private exterior balcony that is accessible through a pair of insulated sliding glass doors. Upper floor porches are a mix of concrete over metal deck and aluminum grating. The grating, in conjunction with extensive skylights in the second floor roof overhang, allows ample light to reach the lower units. Each of the ground floor apartments has a private concrete patio with direct access to the common south lawn. Clear cedar slats provide sun shading as well as privacy to each of the apartments' exterior space. The building exterior features a mix of clear cedar siding and hardiplank over a continuous rain screen. The rain screen will reduce maintenance and shed any water that permeates the siding before it reaches the building wall. All the finishes are dog 'proofed' from the concrete floors, steel columns, and metal grating to the wood slat screens and fences. Any damaged slats can be unbolted, sanded and re-used.

Site work and landscaping will include both human and dog friendly areas with their associated hearty native plants and extensive tree planting. Salvaged fire hydrants will be placed on site for the four legged calls of nature except for one that doubles as a hose bib to fill drinking bowels. An eco-roof conceals the trash enclosure which is carved into the slope and creates one of the sides of the new entry stair while a stainless steel cable trellis system will blur the straight lines of the modern box with vines that will grow on the side of the building. Landscape and site design in collaboration with Koch Landscape Architecture.