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Rendering courtesy of Holst

Julia West Apartments

Portland, OR

Business Type

Affordable housing units

Size

50,000 square feet

Architect

Holst Architecture

Owner

Community Development Partners

Project Categories

All-Electric

The Julia West Apartments provide safe, sustainable, and affordable housing for Portland’s low-income seniors.

Located in downtown Portland, the 12-story Julia West Apartments is Oregon’s tallest affordable housing project built with cross-laminated timber (CLT). With 90 units, the all-electric building will support vulnerable seniors with secure housing and essential community resources, including shared kitchens, laundry facilities, and gathering spaces that foster connection and care.

Built on a compact urban infill site, the Julia West Apartments exemplify how collaboration and innovative design thinking can advance equity, resilience, and environmental performance in affordable housing.

Special Features


  • The centralized heat pump ventilation system supplies 100% filtered outside air to each unit. This improves indoor air quality and supports resident health.

  • Drain water heat recovery systems in showers capture heat from used water and use it to preheat incoming water. This reduces energy use and improves hot water delivery efficiency.

  • Each unit has individual temperature control provided by a VRF system. This offers efficient heating and cooling tailored to resident comfort and helps address temperature-related challenges common in affordable housing.

  • The plumbing design enhances resident well-being by reducing water waste and minimizing risks of waterborne pathogens through small-diameter piping and high-efficiency fixtures.

Prioritizing resident health and comfort

Julia West Apartments integrates advanced all-electric systems that prioritize resident health and comfort—delivering clean, filtered air, individual temperature control, and safe, efficient plumbing to create a resilient and sustainable affordable housing community.