In response to the Governor’s State of Emergency Proclamation Decree to address houselessness in Hawai‘i, the City and County of Honolulu Department of Land Management (DLM) acquired a semi-vacant retail building, two dilapidated warehouse buildings, and an open canopy area for redevelopment. Located at the ‘Ewa mauka corner of the intersection of Iwilei Road and Sumner Street, the site’s infrastructure was completely transformed from the original 1-2 story commercial/warehouse facility into a new four-story, mixed-use property. This new development includes a 27-unit rental apartment complex, administrative offices, a community outreach and resource center with a commercial kitchen, a dining hall, a 10-person dormitory, and a counseling and support services center. The project site previously consisted of only buildings and pavement, with onsite soil conditions that prevented stormwater runoff from percolating into the ground and recharging the aquifer. To meet the City’s desire for sustainable infrastructure, our design team created a new engineering soil media that significantly reduces the footprint of biofilters while meeting water quality requirements and ensuring permeability. The project features the City’s first at-grade biofilter and above-grade biofilter planters—successfully demonstrating that green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) can be implemented in urban developments.

Awards: AIA Honolulu, Award of Merit & Community Impact Award, 2024; ASCE Hawai‘i, Honor Award, 2023; ASCE Hawai‘i, Best Green/Sustainable/Envision Project, 2022