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Project name: Nueva Esperanza

Location: Hillsboro

Completion: January 2024

Size: 20,157 square feet

Owner: Bienestar

Architect: Scott Edwards Architecture

Interior Designer: Scott Edwards Architecture

Engineers: Standridge Design, Stonewood Structural Engineers, Interface Engineering

General Contractor: LMC Construction

Submitting Company: Scott Edwards Architecture

Other Associates/Key Consultants: PLACE

Subcontractors: ACME Scenic and Display, Benelli Construction, Castle Masonry & Restoration, Creators, DE-EL Commercial, Eagle Striping Services, Environmental Works, Great Northwest Gutters, Halsey Design, Interior Tech, JB Insulation, Jet Industries, Joshua Legacy Painting, KO Construction, Kodiak Pacific Construction, Lanz Cabinets, Lauzon Contracting, McDermott Fence, Modular Paving Systems, MSC Contracting, Nail It! Roofing, Northwest Door & Supply, Northwest Waterproofing, Pacific Landscape Services, Pacific Northwest Glass & Mirror, Outdoor Play & Amenities, Parca Floors, Precision Countertops, Santiago Concrete, Solid Form, Standard TV & Appliance, TerraCalc, Ultra Quiet Floors, VPI

Nueva Esperanza, meaning “new hope” in Spanish, brings 150 affordable apartment homes to Hillsboro while embracing the cultural diversity of its residents through thoughtful design and community engagement.

The 6-acre development breaks down its scale into three distinct neighborhoods, called colonias, each featuring outdoor plazas with unique amenities like barbecues, play structures and piñata poles. These colonias are connected by paths including the Paseo, Arroyo Walk and Alameda, creating a walkable community that invites interaction.

The design team learned through collaboration with clients and community engagement that the development would primarily serve families, predominantly from Latinx and Somali cultures.

Cultural sensitivity extends to apartment interiors, where three- and four-bedroom units feature kitchen and living room spaces divided by partitions or doors – a specific request from community members. Two-bedroom apartments include separate vanity areas outside bathrooms.

The community building serves as a gathering hub with a large community room featuring a connected kitchen, multi-colored acoustic ceiling and warm wood accents. A retractable partition allows the space to host multiple events simultaneously.

Nueva Esperanza was designed applying principles of universal, trauma-informed and inclusive design. Five of the six architecture team members were women, two of whom were Latinx, and subconsultants included minority-owned and women-owned firms.

The development achieved Earth Advantage Platinum certification, exceeding initial sustainability goals. Features include preserved existing trees, stormwater filtration systems and a 26-kilowatt photovoltaic array.

Budget constraints were addressed through creative use of economical materials, including traditional board-and-batten siding applied in non-traditional patterns and cedar accents referencing materials common in residential neighborhoods.

Scott Edwards Architecture noted in the project submission form that it is important to the team to design for diverse communities, and it is equally important to partner with diverse businesses to deliver these projects for the community and clients. Nueva Esperanza’s design DMWESB contracting goal was 20 percent and the design team exceeded that goal, reaching 37 percent.

The minority contracting goal for the project was 35 percent MWESB participation, and the general contractor – LMC Construction – achieved 38.71 percent. LMC actively reached out to minority, women-owned, and emerging small businesses to inform them about the project and collaborated with organizations supporting MWESB firms, such as LatinoBuilt and NAMC-Oregon, to identify and engage potential contractors. LMC also provided training and resources to MWESB firms to help them meet project requirements and enhance their capabilities.