Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House
Architect: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
Owner: Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House
Location: San Francisco
Project site: Brownfield
Building program type(s): Lodging – Residence Hall/Dormitory, other
Founded in 1981, Family House is a not-for-profit organization providing free temporary housing to families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at the University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital. The objectives for the new Family House in Mission Bay were to provide a comforting, healthy, and supportive environment for 80 families in a non-institutional, residential setting. Sustainable strategies focused on combining healthy and restorative living spaces for the families with resource and energy efficiencies critical to the on-going operations of the non-profit organization. The resulting design received a Platinum Level certification under the LEED for Homes program.
"This cost-effective building serves a community of sick children and their families while prioritizing environmental performance." ~ Jury statement
Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House provides a comforting and supportive environment for 80 families in a non-institutional, residential setting. Image: Bruce Damonte
Integrating health-focused strategies and a sensitivity to economy into a space that fosters community and healing within an urban environment: Founded in 1981, Family House is a not-for-profit organization providing free temporary housing to families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Children’s Hospital. With the construction of the new Benioff Children’s Hospital in Mission Bay, Family House needed to relocate their operation to a nearby location. Developed on a site two blocks away from the new hospital, the Nancy and Stephen Grand Family House provides a comforting and supportive environment for 80 families in a non-institutional, residential setting. The mission of Family House is unique, which led to a unique design process. The project faced several constraints; some of the biggest challenges included managing construction costs, a contaminated and subsiding site, recognizing the importance of designing an environment for children with severely compromised immune systems, and constructing the first new development project undertaken by the organization. The design team’s sustainable strategies focused on providing healthy living spaces, including a continuous air ventilation system and nontoxic building materials, achieving LEED Platinum certification. Supporting community was a central design strategy as well; shared living and gathering spaces are integrated throughout the building, with two community living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms on each floor, a courtyard on the second level, a flex conference room, and meditation space. The exterior orange corner screen serves as both an icon for the building as well as solar shading; the fresh air system does not need cooling and has a low operating cost; and the green roofs offer insulation, stormwater management, habitats for drought-tolerant plants and local fauna, as well as attractive views.
