Project Snapshot 

• Type: Mixed-use – Youth & Family Outreach + Affordable Housing 

• Size: 20,000 SF | 60 units (46 affordable) 

• Location: Portland, ME 

• Architects: Invivid Architecture

• Scope: Portland Green New Deal, ZERH certification, LEED  

• Focus: High-performance design, ZERH readiness, LEED-aligned strategy 

The Situation 

The project was developed to address both housing demand and community support needs in Portland, combining a youth and family outreach center with affordable housing above. The team had set ambitious performance targets aligned with Portland’s Green New Deal and a goal of achieving Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH), but the path to get there—within budget—was to be evaluated. 

The Challenge 

The project needed to perform 30% better than ASHRAE 90.1-2019 while operating under tight financial constraints typical of affordable housing. Balancing energy performance, system selection, and cost required careful prioritization as early design decisions would lock in long-term outcomes. 

What We Did 

• Provided early-stage energy guidance throughout design 

• Developed and refined energy models to test system and envelope scenarios 

• Supported value engineering decisions to align performance with budget 

• Advised on strategies to meet ZERH and LEED-certifiable pathways 

• Worked closely with the design team to translate analysis into clear, actionable decisions 

Key Insight 

• Meeting aggressive performance goals with targeted optimization. Strategic shifts in where the budget was allocated delivered greater impact than higher-cost technologies that offered diminishing returns. 

• Achieved an estimated 40% energy savings over baseline 

• Enabled the team to move forward with a clear, buildable strategy aligned with both funding realities and long-term performance