Posted on: May 26, 2026
The COVID-19 pandemic forced a global conversation on health in the built environment. For those involved in affordable housing development and advocacy, this conversation was especially resonant.
Van Meter Williams Pollack (VMWP) invites you to a panel presentation featuring Alicia Gaylord (Senior Vice President, Nor Cal, Affirmed Housing), Randy Tsuda (President and CEO, Alta Housing), and Fred Pollack (Partner and Architect, VMWP). Using examples from successful completed projects, panelists will discuss how project goals and design considerations optimized wellness to help create health-focused, inclusive affordable housing in the South Bay. The two projects showcased here include:
- Vitalia, San Jose (for Affirmed Housing Group): Winner of the Grand PCBC Gold Nugget Award for Best Health/Wellness Design Solution 2024, the mixed-use building provides 79 units of safe affordable family housing with 50% of the units as permanent supportive housing for those coming out of homelessness. Vitalia is designed with health-focused and trauma-informed design considerations.
- Luna Vista, Mountain View (for Alta Housing): The 71-unit 100% affordable housing project provides independent living for low income 1-2 person households, as well as units reserved for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The project also features art made by students of the Morgan Autism Center (a local non-profit) and turned into ‘stained glass’ art pieces installed in key locations in the communal spaces by residents. Through supportive design rooted in wellness, inclusive art, shared open spaces, and on-site services, the residents are not only respected through the design, but celebrated.
Van Meter Williams Pollack is an award-winning architecture and urban design firm based in San Francisco, Denver, and Minneapolis.
Date & Time
- May 28, 2026 12:30 PM
- RSVP: Here
Posted in: News