A NEW LIVING COMPLEX IN SAN DIEGO is providing permanent
supportive housing for chronically homeless veterans using very clever
modular materials for its footprint: recycled shipping containers. The result
is Potter's Lane, an energy-efficient community of 16 living spaces
of 480-square-feet each—and a new lease on life for the veterans who
now call the complex home.
The use of the shipping containers was innovative in many ways. Not only
did their use eliminate the long development cycle often associated with
site-built construction and financing, but it also shortened the actual build
time on-site since the structures were able to be prepared off-site while
work was being done to the site itself. In total, the project utilized 54 former
shipping containers and was completed in just six months’ time.
An American Family Housing project, Potter's Lane also placed focus on
the exterior common areas, designing tranquil gardens and shared spaces
to encourage residents to interact with one another and foster a sense of
community, belonging, and connectedness.
Already making waves, Potter's Lane took home the 2017 award for Best
Affordable Housing Project from PCBC (formerly Pacific Coast Builders
Conference). The design team for the project included SVA Architects Inc.,
LCY Designs, and James Dockstader Landscape Architect, among others.
RECLAIMING THE WATERFRONT
On the waterfront of San Diego’s North Embarcadero sits BRIC San Diego,
a nearly 60,000-square-foot developing expanse of cafés, restaurants,
boutiques, and other shops, not to mention several hotels and a ballpark.
An area that had nothing but potential, the development of BRIC
plays into the evolution of the downtown area to be a 24-hour-a-day
live/work/play environment.
The motivation behind the project is to revitalize the entire area and breathe
new life into one of San Diego’s historic waterfront neighborhoods. The
history of the neighborhood will be evident in many spaces, like a park that
sits on the former Lane Field ballpark location and the surrounding retail and
terrace spaces designed to step back from the park to visually recall
the bleachers of old.
Architecture firm John Portman & Associates, Inc. led the design of BRIC
Phase 1, which opened in 2016 and includes dual-branded Marriott hotels,
leased retail areas for shops, and restaurants. The firm also is leading
the design of a BRIC Phase 2, which will include a 400-room InterContinental
hotel set for completion in 2018.
I
M
A
G
E
:
A
M
E
R
I
C
A
N
FA
M
I
L
Y
H
O
U
S
I
N
G
RENEWABLE FUTURES
"Homes of Steel for the Brave of Heart" is how
American Family Housing describes Potter's Lane,
a new residence for homeless veterans.