City of Bloomington, Indiana

HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

When the City of Bloomington decided to build a prototype subdivision with affordable, sustainable single-family homes, it selected VPS Architecture to be its designer. On a compact site, near parks and transit, VPS created a project unique in the Midwest.

Designs for four separate prototypes are contemporary in style and warm in feeling. Natural drainage swales and raingardens purify water before it enters a stream running along the southern boundary. Sustainable strategies for both site and building design resulted in a LEED Silver certified designation for this USGBC “Pilot Project”.

The main exterior material for all twelve buildings is James Hardie Plank siding, a durable, environmental, fiber cement product. Solar photovoltaic panels on the roofs of each house contribute to lower electric bills, offsetting families’ budgets. The solar panels were donated by Duke Energy, the local energy provider.