Villa Fruitvale

Villa Fruitvale brightens Oakland’s International Boulevard community with its radiant colors, communal areas and ground-level retail center. Mimicking murals and mosaic art, Villa Fruitvale’s staggered façade, accentuated by playful, geometric paintings, draws inspiration from the Hispanic culture and heritage of the neighborhood. Furthermore, the modern, contemporary design delivers an updated feel to the locality. This structure maximizes its form on the site allowing for a reasonable number of units to accommodate transitional youth and families. An array of productive amenities such as classrooms, study spaces, meditation, yoga, and fitness rooms, management offices and a community room are included in addition to a children’s playground, courtyard, bike room and staff break room. The courtyard is inclusive across children, youth and adults building a sense of community. Outside of the structure itself, this urban infill building is located within walking distance of schools, retailers and major transportation such as the BART and city bus systems. Beyond assisting low-income families, this development also supports local businesses through its 4,300 square feet of dedicated retail space. To minimize the impact of construction on the neighborhood, designers utilized modular construction techniques that not only expedite the building phase but also cut the need for additional construction services that provide excess noise pollution and traffic.

• Jill D. Williams - Principal | Chairman of the Board
• Jessica Musick - Principal
• Zac Miles - Associate Principal
• Lily Ciammaichella - Director, Design