G R O U N D B R E A K I N G at Wildrose Apartments in the Methow Valley. CAST is working with the Housing Authority of Okanogan County on the much-needed Wildrose Apartments in Winthrop, Washington. This complex will provide 22 new affordable housing units. Homes will be a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, accommodating families, seniors, and young adults.

The apartments are distributed into three 2-story structures surrounding two sides of a large commons that serves both communities. Both upper and lower units provide outdoor space facing the park, energizing the open space with many sources of activity around its perimeter. The footprint and envelope of each building is kept simple to reduce cost; secondary porches and balconies add visual interest while providing solar shading and weather protection.

During our initial pre-design / Master Planning phase, we sought ways to consolidate the site plan by stacking units and minimizing auto circulation. This allowed us to create a communal open space almost three times larger than what was originally considered in the Feasibility phase.

TEAM
Owner: Housing Authority of Okanogan County www.okanoganhousing.org
Developer: Office of Rural and Farmworker Housing www.orfh.org
Architect: CAST
Contractor: Cascade Central Construction
Civil + Structural Engineer: Facet
Landscape Architecture: Lyon Landscape Architects
Electrical Engineer: TFWB Engineers
Mechanical Engineer: Berona Engineers, Inc
Envelope: Testcomm LLC
Survey: Tackman Surveying
Geotechnical: Nelson Geotechnical Associates. Inc.

With generous support from:
Methow Housing Trust
Community Foundation of North Central Washington
Rural Community Assistance Corporation
Washington State Department of Commerce
Washington State Housing Finance Commission

Photos: Mitchell Image

Under construction… With the Methow River Retreat, we conscientiously limited its footprint to minimize disruption of the riverfront site. This careful approach allows the home to reflect craft and integrate passive design solutions while sitting lightly on the land.

With a keen focus on preserving views in all directions and ensuring privacy, window placement is carefully planned for maximum impact. Low leakage, high R-value European tilt-turn style windows have wood interiors and aluminum exteriors, providing efficiency, durability, and beauty.

A ground-source heat pump that leverages the earth's consistent temperature was selected for enhanced efficient heating and cooling.  Spray foam is used sparingly and is purposeful, prioritizing condensation control at the roof while minimizing environmental impact. To maximize solar panel efficiency, the south-facing roof orientation is complemented by a battery system for an uninterrupted power supply during power outages.

Energy-efficient appliances were selected. From a combination heat pump washer/dryer to an induction range, each choice reflects efficiency and sustainability.

TEAM
Architect: CAST
Builder: Bjornsen Construction
Structural Engineer: Harriott Valentine Engineers
Biologist: George Wooten

See more: www.castarchitecture.com/methow-river-retreat

This off-grid cabin, nestled in the hills on a 5+ acre site bordering U.S. Forest Service land, is 30 minutes from Logan, Utah. The home makes the most of its setting, offering expansive views in every direction. A southwest-facing bank of windows frames the surrounding landscape views, bringing in abundant natural light. The cabin is designed to operate entirely off the grid, with a solar array and backup generator.

The structure’s orientation, placement of glazing, and the depth of roof overhangs are designed to optimize solar gain in winter, while providing shade during the hot summer sun—an efficient and responsive strategy. A solar array with a backup generator powers the home.

Firewise design strategies:
- rock and concrete perimeter
- weathering steel siding
- metal roof (also designed to retain snow )

Built to meet the challenges of its rural location, this cabin demonstrates how modern off-grid living can be resilient and deeply connected to place.

See more: www.castarchitecture.com/logan-canyon-offgrid-cabin

University Cooperative School is the first school to be approved as Retrofitted on the City of Seattle’s URM list.

The City of Seattle has recognized University Cooperative School for successfully achieving "Retrofitted Unreinforced Masonry (URM)" status. Over eight years, CAST, Swenson Say Faget structural engineers, and the project team completed the required work and documentation, ensuring the school meets the necessary standards, and updated its status on the City's list of structures previously requiring evaluation and potential retrofitting under the upcoming URM Ordinance.

TEAM
Client: University Cooperative School
Architect: CAST
Owners Rep: Westlake Consulting Group
Contractor: Sellen
Structural: Swenson Say Faget ssfengineers.com
Electrical: TFWB
Estimating: Rider Levett Bucknall www.rlb.com/americas
Special Inspection: Terracon

Check out their blog: https://www.thinkwood.com/blog/the-epitome-of-cozy-7-wood-forward-cabins-elevating-the-traditional-rustic-getaway

Nestled into the mountains of the Methow Valley, the Edelweiss House’s distinctive horseshoe design creates an indoor/outdoor space that the owners can enjoy during every season. With a central courtyard surrounded by Douglas fir-clad kitchen, living, dining, and sleeping areas, CAST Architecture designed the home to be a social hub that brings people together. The wood-paneled ceiling extends through the veranda’s overhang, enhancing the natural flow of the design. The primary suite features a built-in fir headboard and diffuse glass that floods the space with natural light. The utility wing on the opposite side of the home includes a welcoming guest area, an office, and a game room thoughtfully crafted for flexibility.

As an AIA 2030 signatory firm, CAST has committed to its goal of carbon-neutral buildings by 2030. This Commitment is an actionable climate strategy that offers a set of standards and goals for reaching net zero emissions in the built environment.

Our design approach and process are thoughtful. We push the limits of sustainability through project performance by setting clear goals and making a positive impact on the environment. Our expertise helps our clients align with their green building goals and understand building life-cycle costs, lower utility bills, enjoy the benefits from natural light, and manage water usage.

The latest climate data tells us that reducing carbon emissions is not enough. To make the biggest impact, we must commit to net zero emissions by 2030—a path that requires strong, immediate action. Since the built environment creates a staggering 40% of the world's emissions, architects, engineers, and owners play a key role. We know that every project can be a catalyst for change.

Our Sustainability Action Plan includes principles and commitments that look for smart, innovative ways to deliver our projects and support climate goals.
Principles
Think Holistically
Act with Urgency
Every Project Counts
Make the Next Project Better

Commitments
Measure Performance
Support Research
Commit to AIA 2030 Challenge
Iterate on Success
Work with Partners
Advocate for Change
Celebrate Wins

See our Sustainability Action Plan here: www.castarchitecture.com/sustainability-action-plan

CAST is dedicated to tracking and reporting our progress toward the AIA 2030 Commitment. We will utilize energy modeling, life cycle assessments, and post-occupancy evaluations to measure operational energy use and embodied carbon across our projects. Our team will document and submit project performance data to the AIA Design Data Exchange (DDx), responding with transparency and accountability. By setting measurable benchmarks and analyzing trends, we will refine our strategies, improve outcomes, and contribute to industry-wide efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. Through this commitment, we will continuously push the boundaries of sustainable design while sharing insights that drive collective progress.

We have had deep roots in sustainable design since our founding in 1999. We are committed to improving the lives of individuals, families, and the community through vibrant and thoughtful design. CAST is at the forefront of sustainable architecture, creating high-performance buildings designed to endure. Our approach prioritizes responsible resource management throughout a building’s lifecycle, integrating climate-responsive design, the best available building science, and site-specific strategies.

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Detached Accessory Dwelling Units (DADUs) are transforming the housing landscape in urban areas. These self-contained small homes, can be attached or stand-alone and are becoming increasingly popular in cities grappling with housing shortages, rising costs, and shifting lifestyle preferences.

Help Housing Shortages
The surge in demand for housing has put significant pressure on urban neighborhoods, where space is limited and housing affordability is a critical issue. ADUs and DADUs offer a practical solution by increasing the housing stock within existing neighborhoods.

Affordability + Flexibility
ADUs and DADUs provide an affordable alternative for renters and homeowners alike. Homeowners can use these units as rental properties, offering housing at a lower cost than traditional apartment units. They can also serve as multi-generational living spaces, allowing families to stay connected while maintaining privacy. For many, ADUs are a way to downsize without leaving their neighborhoods, contributing to economic diversity in communities.

Ease Zoning Regulations
Cities across the US are revising zoning laws to encourage the construction of ADUs and DADUs. These policy changes make it easier for homeowners to build these units by reducing permitting costs, relaxing parking requirements, and increasing maximum allowable sizes. In Seattle, for example, pre-approved DADU plans streamline the process, saving time and money for homeowners.

Sustainability
These small homes align with urban densification goals. By utilizing existing infrastructure and minimizing the need for new developments these homes help reduce urban sprawl. Additionally, their smaller size typically results in lower energy consumption.

Enhance Community Character
Thoughtfully designed DADUs can blend seamlessly into existing architectural styles, adding diversity to the housing stock while preserving the integrity of the neighborhood.

See more: www.castarchitecture.com/backyard-cottages-new

Matt Hutchins addresses the critical issue of “missing middle” housing in the U.S., exploring the housing gap that falls between single-family homes and high-density apartments. Serving as a jury member for the Denver Single-Stair Housing Challenge organized by Buildner, he focuses on innovative solutions to promote accessible, medium-density housing options.

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orW8tnmPSv0

Missing-middle housing is a housing type that fits in the middle between single-family detached houses and larger apartment buildings. That’s duplexes, tri-plexes, four-plexes, ten-plexes, and small apartment buildings. It’s any sort of increment of density that is greater than a single-family house, but isn’t the blocks of apartment buildings that is much of what we see in the development world today. Missing-middle housing is important for urban development because American cities have lots of space. They are nowhere near full. We have empty parking lots. We have lots that were never developed. We have space in our cities we can use or reuse. There are many opportunities within our cities to densify and make use of existing infrastructure without having to assemble a whole block or use more “high-wire acts” with regard to development.

• Make good use of small lots

• Use of single-stair buildings is a critical tactic for taking advantage of small urban lots

• Adapt building regulations and make required changes

• Use underutilized urban land

• Use space correctly

• We have already invested in the urban infrastructure

• We can have a more efficient city and residents with a lower carbon footprint

• ADUs and DADUs are powerful tools to keep communities together, keep the property in family, and create generational wealth

• Missing-middle housing is compact, efficient, and sustainable

Introducing CAST’s Infill Housing Toolkit: We put together recent, current, and future projects to showcase strategies and case studies for abundant housing infill development.

Site Typologies
Constrained Lots
Typical Infill Lots
Large, Assembled Lots

Design Features
Single Stair
Stacked Flats
Low-Energy Design
Low-Carbon Building
Diverse Unit Mix
Open Space

The Kirkland Cedar Cottage shines. It has an extremely efficient footprint that provides well daylit living space, necessary storage, flexibility, and a covered outdoor living area.

Bathed in natural light, a generous central area includes the kitchen, dining, and living spaces. The cottage is accessible with one-level living, flush entry thresholds and flooring transitions, a galley kitchen, and a generous entry that connects the spaces. 

Carefully placed large windows and glass entry doors flood the area with light that bounces off the white walls to make it feel larger than its square footage. The open glass doors and deep eaves create a vibrant indoor/outdoor living experience.

Square feet: 467

Green Design: Energy-efficient heating, cooling, and water heating systems, passive solar heat gain in window/shading, all LED lighting, low VOC recycled and renewable materials, and no fossil fuel use appliances.

Interior Designer: Jayne Douglas Design
Builder: NW Finishing
Photos: Kara Mercer

This cottage was recently featured in Kirkland Lifestyle.

Read the Article Online Here (Page 22-23)

View a PDF of the Article Here