Tallawhalt Housing Project, Swinomish Housing Authority

Swinomish, Washington 

Akana provided A/E design and construction administration services for development of affordable single-family housing located in the Tallawhalt Subdivision on the Swinomish Reservation in La Conner, WA.  Set within a rural hilltop tribal housing community, the site includes 14 platted lots of approximately 30,000 square feet each.   The project involved design of 16 two- and three-bedroom single family homes, 8 of which are Type A accessible units dedicated to elder housing.  Single-family home lots accommodate two residences per lot, reducing impacts to the site and encouraging a vibrant connected community. 

Site work involved design of new sanitary sewer, water, street and storm drainage improvements, and grading plans were developed to accommodate wet weather construction on the sloping site. 

To find a housing type and project delivery method appropriate to Swinomish tribal life and the project budget, the Akana team worked with focus groups to identify housing design preferences, develop project design guidelines and sustainability goals and strategies.  We worked with the Swinomish Housing Authority to determine the feasibility of various building methodologies including conventional stick framed, panelized and modular housing, and recommended the most appropriate building methodology for the housing project. 

The homes were designed with SIP panels, heat recovery ventilators and healthy flooring surfaces, contributing to the Housing Authority’s goals for long-term durability, healthy indoor environment and low costs for tenants.