FREMONT, CA, May 2, 2009--Irvington Terrace, an affordable apartment community here, has won a prestigious 2009 AIA/HUD Secretary Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing Design. The honor was presented yesterday at the AIA 2009 National Convention and Design Exposition in San Francisco.

The Secretary Award is determined jointly by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Housing and Custom Residential Knowledge Community and the Office of the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Only four projects are honored in this very competitive, national awards program.

The award recognizes "excellence in affordable housing architecture, neighborhood and participatory design, and accessibility." AIA/HUD chooses the award projects to provide exemplary benchmarks to the industry.

"We are extremely gratified at this joint industry and official recognition of the merits of Irvington Terrace," said Ernesto Vasquez, AIA, Vice President and Partner of California-based MVE & Partners, which designed the project. "Even more importantly, we take pride in knowing that Irvington Terrace will provide enjoyable and useful housing to the residents of Fremont for generations to come."

"Good design is a cornerstone of thriving homes and communities of all incomes and backgrounds," stated officials from the AIA/HUD program. "These awards demonstrate that design matters."

A modern interpretation of the California Mission-style, the complex is designed to blend seamlessly into its market-rate neighbors, so is rendered in earth-tone colors, and features articulated entryways, rectangular massings and landscaped interior courtyards with trellises and playgrounds that evoke a traditional village square. Perimeter apartments feature townhome-style stoops, porches and balconies that face surrounding streets--thus addressing the neighborhood, and enhancing a sense of community.

The $31.8-million project was commissioned by BRIDGE Housing, a leading nonprofit developer of affordable housing in California. Irvington Terrace serves working families earning between 30 percent and 50 percent of regional median family income. The property has 25 one-bedroom apartments, 35 two-bedroom apartments and 40 three-bedroom units. The apartments form the affordable component of the master-planned 8.6-acre community, Irvington Village.

As an infill development, Irvington Terrace is in proximity to urban amenities, such as mass transportation, retailers, schools, parks and employers.

Irvington Terrace is the latest success for MVE & Partners and BRIDGE Housing, partners since 1993. The team has created many affordable neighborhoods for California residents, which include San Pablo in Irvine, Ohlone Court in San Jose, Peninsula Park in East Palo Alto, Santa Alicia in Irvine and Terra Cotta in San Marcos.

MVE & Partners is a national architecture, planning and interiors firm with a portfolio spanning more than 30 years. MVE's design and delivery services include the creation of residential, commercial, mixed-use, hospitality, retail, transit, interior and planning solutions from offices in Irvine and Oakland, CA, and in Honolulu, HI.

BRIDGE Housing Corporation creates and manages a range of high-quality, affordable homes for working families and seniors. Since it was founded in 1983, BRIDGE has participated in the development of more than 13,000 homes serving more than 35,000 Californians.

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