26 Point 2 Apartments, designed for Excelerate Housing Group, is a 5-story permanent supportive housing apartment building in Long Beach, California that bridges between a busy commercial zone and a residential neighborhood. The 48,000 sf, 77-unit project uses color as a strategic spatial device, to enhance the reading of discrete yet interconnected zones.

The project straddles Pacific Coast Highway to the north – a busy commercial strip – and a residential neighborhood with modest single-family homes to the south. The sculptural massing that connects to the differing contexts on either side bridges this shift in scale and character. Along the eastern residential street, the facade is articulated into a series of pitched motifs that relate to the gabled roofs of nearby houses.

The residential volume hovers over the site on a series of columns while the single-story, pitched-roof amenity volume faces the street at a pedestrian friendly scale. Amenities, staff, and supportive spaces are located along the west and north edges of the site bordering the outdoor covered parking area. A fully glazed street level enclosure allows the ground plane to extend uninterrupted across the interior, preserving a visual connection to the city beyond while maintaining a protected experience for the occupants.

The project earned LEED Gold certification by employing a range of sustainability strategies. High efficiency mini-split systems, solar hot water, high albedo roofing, open air circulation, operable windows, and occupant lighting controls help to reduce overall energy use. On site water treatment tanks, extensive permeable paving, and native drought-tolerant landscaping conserve and protect water resources.

The project also offers socially sustainable high-density housing, by providing supportive living and wrap-around services for the formerly unhoused, with on-site counseling, staff offices, and social amenity spaces to foster a sense of community.