Community Focused Design by Brooks + Scarpa

In the realm of socially conscious architecture, few firms have a portfolio as impactful as Brooks + Scarpa. Renowned for their democratic design philosophy that champions dignity and community, the practice has delivered over 10,000 units of housing. Their latest project, Northview Pointe in Sacramento, represents a significant evolution, applying their human-centric principles to a new, low-density suburban context. This supportive housing development goes beyond providing shelter; it actively fosters community, well-being, and a profound sense of belonging for its formerly homeless residents through intentional, innovative design.

From Urban Infill to Suburban Innovation: Adapting a Design Ethos

While celebrated for dense urban infill projects, Brooks + Scarpa saw Northview Pointe as an opportunity to explore the potential of low-density suburban affordable housing. The 1.23-acre site, an unusually deep parcel in the River Gardens neighborhood, presented a unique canvas. The firm’s approach moved away from a single, monolithic structure. Instead, they conceived the 31,000-square-foot complex as a collection of three two-story bars, arranged in a loose “C” shape. This strategic site plan avoids an institutional feel, creating a campus-like environment that resonates with the surrounding neighborhood’s scale and character, effectively de-stigmatizing supportive housing through its architecture.

The “Inverted Porch”: Designing for Community and Climate

A central, groundbreaking feature of Northview Pointe is what Principal Lawrence Scarpa describes as an “inverted porch.” Rather than facing inward, the project’s social and circulatory heart is turned outward. A second-level walkway connects the three volumes, topped by a dynamic, undulating metal canopy. This design element is far more than aesthetic; it serves a critical functional purpose. It provides essential shade from Sacramento’s intense summer sun, creating a protected outdoor corridor that encourages casual interaction and chance encounters among residents. This passive climate strategy enhances comfort and naturally promotes the social connectivity vital for community building.

Biophilic Design and LEED Platinum Sustainability

True to Brooks + Scarpa’s commitment to holistic design, Northview Pointe is pursuing LEED Platinum certification, a rare achievement for affordable housing projects. Sustainability is woven into the human experience. The central courtyard is divided by a community pavilion into two asymmetric outdoor rooms, landscaped with biophilic principles in mind. This connection to nature—through greenery, light, and air—is intentional. As Scarpa notes, it helps residents feel they have “a property and not just a unit in a building.” The project even includes a small dog park, acknowledging the importance of pets for companionship and emotional support.

Materiality and Rhythm: Elevating the Everyday

The architects have long maintained that high design need not be sacrificed for budget constraints. At Northview Pointe, this is evident in the thoughtful material selection. Colored cement plaster and extruded window frames are used not as mere finishes but as strategic tools. They add depth, rhythm, and texture to the facades, breaking down the massing and ensuring the building feels engaging at a human scale. These details, often omitted in cost-driven projects, are fundamental to Brooks + Scarpa’s belief that aesthetic quality contributes directly to resident dignity and pride of place.

A New Standard for Supportive Housing

Developed in collaboration with Excelerate Housing Group and the non-profit service provider Hope Collective, Northview Pointe is more than just housing; it is a vital support system. The central pavilion houses community kitchens, social service offices, and gathering spaces, ensuring residents have access to the resources they need to thrive. By rejecting a fortress-like mentality and instead creating a permeable, welcoming, and beautiful environment, Brooks + Scarpa has set a new national benchmark. Northview Pointe proves that with ingenuity and empathy, supportive housing can be a catalyst for community integration and a powerful testament to how design can enrich every life.

(✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight)

Brooks + Scarpa’s Northview Pointe masterfully demonstrates how supportive housing can transcend its basic function through intentional design, fostering dignity and community for formerly homeless residents. Its “inverted porch” and biophilic campus layout are commendable innovations that challenge the typology’s often institutional character. However, the project’s suburban low-density site is a privilege not often available in cities facing severe housing crises, raising questions about the scalability of such a model in more constrained urban contexts. Ultimately, its greatest success lies in its unwavering human-centric philosophy, proving that aesthetic quality and sustainability are not luxuries but essential components of equitable housing that truly heals.