SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the midst of the global economic crisis, KMD Architects remains highly active by relying on a combination of affordable housing, sustainable design, and international projects. To meet the growing need for affordable housing in the city of San Francisco, construction is nearing completion on the KMD Architects-designed 250,000 SF mixed-use project in the South of Market neighborhood adjacent to the Mid-Market Redevelopment Agency area. Mercy Housing Towers provides 135 family and 107 senior housing units, a youth center planned to serve both the resident population and youngsters in the surrounding neighborhood, and a small retail component at street level. The project consists of a 12-story and an 11-story building connected by an elevated split-level terrace on the rooftop of an at-grade parking garage, providing a secure area for outdoor activities for the residents. Mercy Housing, a non-profit developer, has participated in the development, preservation and/or financing of more than 35,700 affordable residences, both rental and single family, serving more than 117,000 people on any given day. Mercy Housing Towers represents one of many projects KMD Architects has undertaken as part of its mission to create socially responsible buildings that will support and enhance the community and revitalize neighborhoods. This mission also informs the firm's emphasis on sustainable design, creating buildings that are more durable, safe, and pleasant and that increase occupant health and performance while reducing resource use. Examples include the firm's recent pro-bono work for the City of San Francisco in generating a sustainable master plan for the historic Civic Center as well as the firm's design for the San Francisco City Public Utilities Commission Building in the Civic Center. "This building exceeds the requirements for the US Green Building Council's LEED(TM) Platinum certification and is currently targeted to be the greenest building in the U.S. in terms of energy efficiency and onsite power production," says KMD principal David Hobstetter.
