URBANbuild - A Tulane School of Architecture partnership with NHS : Neighborhood Housing Services

URBANBUILD - A Partnership with Tulane School of Architecture

Innovative Housing

NHS real estate development also includes a partnership with the Tulane School of Architecture’s URBANbuild design/build program. Tulane architecture students participate in a studio for one semester designing a single family home with a focus on affordability, innovative building systems and energy efficiency. They spend the next semester constructing the home under the supervision of an architect and licensed contractor. NHS provides the land in one of our target areas and funds all other hard and soft costs. NHS sells the completed home to a first-time homebuyer. Check out the Tulane School of Architecture's website here: www.tulaneurbanbuild.com

To date, the partnership has constructed 5 homes utilizing innovative construction technologies such as modular, steel frame and SIP panelized construction with an emphasis on energy efficiency and green building. The design process and construction of one of these houses, URBANbuild 3, was the subject of an award winning documentary series that aired on Sundance: www.sundancechannel.com/architecture-school

The latest URBANbuild house, URBANbuild 4, was recently awarded a LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification which is a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222

URBANbuild 4 LEED Silver Status

Tulane and NHS have a great partnership, which so far has resulted in four amazing projects.

Check them out.