May 6, 2022
Fifth Avenue awarded the Chicago Building Congress Merit Award
We're very proud to share that the Fifth Avenue Apartments have been awarded a Chicago Building Congress (CBC) Merit Award in the Residential/Hospitality category. The CBC Merit Awards have celebrated the building industry since 1956 by singling out the outstanding projects in greater Chicagoland built in recent years. Merit Awards are presented for construction in nine categories and are judged on the quality of their distinctive, functional or innovative designs, quality of construction, the impact of the project on the community, and the project's safety record.
Interfaith Housing Development Corporation overcame years of resistance to affordable housing in Maywood, IL, a historically underserved neighborhood outside Chicago to develop the Fifth Avenue Apartments. The building was designed by HED specifically to meet the needs of lower income working families and individuals, including homeless veterans, while meeting aggressive goals for sustainability and wellness.
Interfaith Housing Development Corporation overcame years of resistance to affordable housing in Maywood, IL, a historically underserved neighborhood outside Chicago to develop the Fifth Avenue Apartments. The building was designed by HED specifically to meet the needs of lower income working families and individuals, including homeless veterans, while meeting aggressive goals for sustainability and wellness.
(Pictured above, left to right: Harriette Mimms, Director of Construction & Asset Management, Perry Vietti, President of Interfaith Housing Development Corporation, Hannah Russell of McShane Construction, Susan King, HED Sector Leader and project Principal in Charge)
Built by McShane Construction, the five-story development is comprised of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units providing affordable housing for households at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI), along with interior and exterior shared community spaces. It also includes approximately 4,000 sf of retail space on the ground floor, slated for development into a grocery store, addressing the lack of this amenity in the area.
During the design process, Fifth Avenue Apartments was an aspirational case study via the Affordable Housing Pilot for the Living Building Challenge. Fifth Avenue Apartments ambitiously aimed to provide more sustainable and healthy living conditions while maintaining the desired affordable mix. These goals are especially poignant in affordable housing, which has historically struggled to meet financial goals while providing tenants with exceptional, healthy facilities and finishes.
As a result of the LBC Pilot participation, in addition to what HED already considers standard sustainable basics (high efficiency heating and cooling integrated with the building envelope, low flow plumbing fixtures, low emitting interior finishes, etc.), the HED team was able to streamline its processes while achieving additional benefits for the end users.
Together, the development, design, and construction teams brought sustainable, quality affordable housing to the Maywood community, fulfilling a long unmet need. Congratulations to the entire team on a job well done!
Built by McShane Construction, the five-story development is comprised of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residential units providing affordable housing for households at or below 60% of the area median income (AMI), along with interior and exterior shared community spaces. It also includes approximately 4,000 sf of retail space on the ground floor, slated for development into a grocery store, addressing the lack of this amenity in the area.
During the design process, Fifth Avenue Apartments was an aspirational case study via the Affordable Housing Pilot for the Living Building Challenge. Fifth Avenue Apartments ambitiously aimed to provide more sustainable and healthy living conditions while maintaining the desired affordable mix. These goals are especially poignant in affordable housing, which has historically struggled to meet financial goals while providing tenants with exceptional, healthy facilities and finishes.
As a result of the LBC Pilot participation, in addition to what HED already considers standard sustainable basics (high efficiency heating and cooling integrated with the building envelope, low flow plumbing fixtures, low emitting interior finishes, etc.), the HED team was able to streamline its processes while achieving additional benefits for the end users.
Together, the development, design, and construction teams brought sustainable, quality affordable housing to the Maywood community, fulfilling a long unmet need. Congratulations to the entire team on a job well done!