La Mora Senior Apartments

Award Criteria

Architectural Excellence

La Mora Senior Apartments is a 55,000 sq. ft., five-story, Passive House-certified modular building with 60 units (57 one-bedroom, 3 two-bedroom). Its design blends energy efficiency and modern aesthetics, featuring superior insulation, high-quality windows, and airtight construction.
The project’s modular portion comprises 92 prefabricated modules for speed and cost efficiency while ensuring quality. The exterior combines clean lines with sustainable materials, complementing the neighborhood’s evolving urban character. Inside, contemporary finishes enhance comfort, with communal spaces like a fitness center, rooftop deck, and landscaped courtyard fostering community. Located near parks, transit, and hospitals, the building integrates seamlessly with its surroundings, prioritizing accessibility and livability. Its thoughtful layout balances affordability, sustainability, and visual appeal, making it a model for senior housing

Technical Innovation & Sustainability

La Mora Senior Apartments employs innovative modular construction, using 92 modular units to create a high-quality, energy-efficient building. This approach enabled faster assembly, and reduced waste and carbon emissions while adhering to strict PHIUS Certification standards, ensuring 40-60% energy savings compared to conventional designs. High-efficiency insulation, triple-pane windows, and ENERGY STAR appliances enhance energy performance. In the offsite environment, modules were prefabricated with low-flow plumbing, LED lighting, and high-efficiency VRF HVAC systems, minimizing on-site waste and shortening build time. The design integrates sustainable materials, advanced air-tightness, and a central electric hot water system, optimizing resource use. Specific techniques utilized at the modular factory resulted in testing of un-taped airtightness achieving a WUFI Passive: 0.062 cfm50/sf resulting in a Phius Core 2021 certification.

Cost Effectiveness

La Mora Senior Apartments used modular construction to achieve cost-effectiveness, reducing on-site labor and construction time while maintaining high quality. The 92 prefabricated modules were built offsite using sustainable materials like high-performance insulation and low-flow plumbing fixtures, minimizing waste and transportation costs. Partnerships with MHACY, Mulford Corporation, and NYSERDA provided financing and technical guidance, offsetting costs through incentives and funding programs. Energy-efficient features, including LED lighting, ENERGY STAR appliances, and high-efficiency electric VRF HVAC systems, lower utility bills for residents. The design ensured longevity and low maintenance with durable materials and a high-efficiency envelope. The project’s collaboration with local and state agencies secured cost-sharing opportunities, making it financially viable and sustainable.