Wheeler Terrace Achieves LEED GOLD Certification

Online, September 15, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Once one of Washington, DC's "crime hot spots," Wheeler Terrace can now claim it is one of the most sustainable affordable housing communities in the nation.

Wheeler Terrace is a 7-building, 113-unit garden-apartment community in Southeast Washington, DC (Ward 8). Originally built as Veterans' Housing in 1947, the property dramatically declined, becoming one of DC's crime "Hot Spots". In 2006, the Wheeler Tenant Association exercised its right to purchase the property under DC law and elected to transfer its ownership and development rights to CPDC. CPDC acquired the property in November 2007 to redevelop it and preserve it as affordable housing. The project is producing 116 units, all of which will be affordable to households earning at or below 60% of the area median income.

Setty & Associates was the MEP design engineering consultants for 118 apartment units within seven buildings. The M/E/P systems are based around high-performance ground source heat pumps heating and cooling systems, geothermal well field, green roofs, occupancy sensors, demand-control ventilation, recycled materials, a De-super heater for the domestic hot water, and high-efficiency lighting systems. We provided the first geothermal system for a DC housing development.

The completed project is 30% more energy efficient than the national code, 30% more water efficient, and one of two national indoor air quality case studies for the National Center for Healthy Housing. This is a huge victory for affordable housing as it makes Wheeler Terrace the first Section 8 affordable housing development in the region and one of the first in the country to achieve this honor.

Setty & Associates also provided LEED certification administration and fundamental and enhanced commissioning services for the DC government.

M/E/P engineering design for 118 apartment units within seven buildings.Each of the seven buildings has three floors.New work with all new equipments: heat pumps, electric unit heater, pumps, etc.