The Ambassador

Location: Emeryville, CA
Developer: Resources For Community Development
Completion: October 2013

The Ambassador provides 69 units of new affordable housing in an upcoming neighborhood on the border of Oakland and Emeryville. Working with the non-profit organization, Resources for Community Development (RCD), this development was built to serve households at 30% to 50% of Area Median Income.

This family friendly development is comprised of one on-site manager’s unit, four studios, 17 one-bedrooms, 23 two-bedrooms, and 24 three-bedrooms. On site amenities include a community room, a computer learning center, a landscaped courtyard, a children’s garden and playground, and secured on-site parking and a bike storage area. There are also on site resident support services such as educational workshops and youth activities that are provided free of charge.

Building A at 75,000 square feet and five stories is the largest of the three buildings. It includes a generous second-floor landscaped courtyard for residents’ use, community rooms, and distinctive architectural elements in the lobbies and outdoor areas. Townhouses B and C maintain the scale of local single-family homes while employing architectural elements that compliment the entire development. Within the three-building site, play areas and landscaping contribute to a sense of community and unite the separate structures with the existing neighborhood.

Since the building is very close to the freeway, acoustically appropriate materials were used in the design and construction to provide maximum insulation from noise. The exterior of the building facing the freeway was built with an acoustic clip which has two layers of extra wallboard attached to it, isolating and insulating residents from the traffic noise.

The Ambassador is in close proximity to shopping, services, entertainment, recreation and mass-transit options. It was built with several Green building features, exceeding Title 24 energy efficiency standards by 18 percent.

Awards + Publications
Award of Merit - Affordable or Workforce Housing, 2014 Builder's Choice Award, The Ambassador, Emeryville, CA