Gish Family Apartments

By, Jeffrey Chan

Overview

Building: Gish Family Apartments

Location: San Jose, CA Building type: Special

needs housing, Multi-unit residential, Retail, multi-family housing.

Building use: apartments, convenience store, and beauty salon.

Type of project: New construction.

Completed: June 2007 Architect: Jeff Oberdorfer

Materials and Resources

Building materials were selected with durability in mind.

Natural Linoleum composite wood agrifiber products pre-cut wood concrete, metal

Energy Efficiency

The apartments use of low and ultra low flow sinks, showers and toilets.

High-performance Windows and Doors Optimize energy performance of glazing systems.

The electricity to the building is generated by solar panels.

Generates electricity on-site Uses high levels of

insulation, that reduces heating and energy needs.

Gish Apartments was designed to have a 100-year service life.

Site Ecology

The building formerly housed a gas station with underground storage tanks.

There was a concern that the gas would seep in the building’s water supply.

Bicycle parking is available.

Bus station and train station close for affordable transportation

Water Resources

Use low-flow toilets. Showerheads using less

than 2.2 gallons per minute.

Selected plants for drought tolerance instead of turf.

Use water-efficient irrigation equipment.

Water treatment systems to enable safe sewage disposal.

L.E.E.D award 3/5 points for water efficiency.

Cost Implications

5 years for payback for the natural linoleum floors.

The solar panels generate 42,500 kWh of energy.

Reducing private vehicle use and saving tenants over $700 per year.

The solar panels reduce CO2 emissions by 97,500 pounds of CO2 per year.

Uses 36% less water indoors than a comparable building.