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While designing separate buildings for the Glisan Commons project in Portland’s Gateway neighborhood Holst Architecture and Carleton Hart Architecture shared a mantra.

Just because it’s affordable housing doesn’t mean it should look cheap.

“The conveyance of quality and endurance was important,” said Ben White, a Carleton Hart project architect. “We were limited in budget, but we really focused on using the most expensive materials where it was the most visible.”

Carleton Hart and Holst were hired to design the two buildings independently, and they’re being constructed one at a time. However, White noted that neither firm could afford to ignore the other’s design. The buildings will relate to each other in appearance, and share a courtyard and parking.

“The overall site plan was developed in a way that would really promote interactions between the two phases,” he said. “They are designed to complement each other and not mimic each other.”

Holst and Carleton Hart designers also were challenged to balance the desires of three nonprofits involved in project development: Human Solutions, REACH Community Development and Ride Connection. Human Solutions hired Holst to design the first-phase building, and REACH Community Development hired Carleton Hart to design the second-phase building.

An even bigger challenge, Holst architect Dave Otte said, was working within tight budget constraints. The project was funded through state tax credits and city of Portland urban renewal money, he said.

“There was a moment when we totally shifted gears and did a redesign to meet our budget,” he said.

Portland-based R&H Colas Construction is nearing completion of the $13 million first phase. The four- and five-story building will hold 67 affordable apartments and ground-floor commercial space that will be used by Ride Connection, a nonprofit that provides accessible transportation to seniors and people with disabilities.

The Portland Design Commission recently approved Carleton Hart’s design for the $9.5 million second phase. The six-story building will have 60 affordable apartments for seniors. R&H Colas is scheduled to start construction in February or March.

The Glisan Commons project team is aiming to provide affordable housing close to public transit, but also contribute to revitalization of the Gateway area, Otte said. That is one reason why Holst aimed to make the most of primarily inexpensive building materials, he said.

“We’re trying to up the ante with a higher level finish,” Otte said. “By bringing storefronts and activity it will be sort of a model for the future of Gateway. This is really meant to be a catalyst … get things kick-started over there.”

Designs for both Glisan Commons buildings achieve this goal, Human Solutions Executive Director Jean DeMaster said.

“We just wanted architecture that would stand out in the neighborhood and kind of be part of the upswing in the Gateway neighborhood, so it worked just fine for us,” she said. “We want it to be a sign that affordable housing can be attractive and an asset to the community.”

Holst and Carleton Hart architects had to take into consideration how the Glisan Commons buildings would fit into the surrounding residential neighborhood, White said. Accordingly, the building facades are designed with cuts in certain places.

“They both have massing that relate,” he said. “It’s not a big mass of development that looks out of place. It’s broken down to minimize the impact.”

Holst created visual interest on the facade of its building with splashes of bright colors and metal paneling, Otte said.

“The colors become these special moments,” he said. “(We’re) trying to use those pops of colors and more higher-quality materials to offset the regular apartments.”

Both building designs were affected by a decision to eliminate plans for a parking structure because it would be too expensive. For the second phase, this meant nearly the entire first story had to be a parking garage, White said.

To maintain a pedestrian friendly atmosphere, the design includes stainless steel cable trellises that span from the second floor to planters on the first floor, he said. The raised concrete planters also serve as benches.

“There’s a screen of living material that helps limit the view (of cars),” White said. “We tried to find ways for people to interact with the site.”

For the first phase, parking encroached onto outdoor gathering space. Instead of using asphalt for a parking lot, Holst opted for decorative paving to encourage events such as a farmers market, Otte said.

“What we did is create large areas of pavers almost like a piazza to try and imagine how a parking lot can be used for something other than parking,” he said.