Colonia Unidad provides 44 units of affordable housing for farmworkers, workforce families, and their households across four low-rise apartment buildings in Woodburn, Oregon. The project was designed to meet strict funding criteria without sacrificing the details that make a place feel like home.

A key move was organizing each building around a single shared stair- a code-compliant solution for up to 12 units per building that significantly reduced construction cost while turning the stairwell into a genuine common space. Each entry door faces a breezeway that looks out to the shared grounds and neighborhood, giving neighbors natural opportunities to meet.

The site is rich with communal amenities: a community building with laundry, a manager's office, and a large gathering space; a central pedestrian path connecting to the surrounding neighborhood; a play field; and quieter outdoor spaces with trellises, benches, and picnic tables.

Project designer at Carleton Hart Architecture.