Going for Bold: Window Into Affordability

The Las Ventanas affordable housing complex in Long Beach, California, is a testament to what strategic use of engineered wood products can accomplish on a constrained budget. Built to support the city's "Everyone Home Long Beach" homelessness initiative, the 148,000-square-foot, mixed-use development required a construction approach that was both cost-effective and structurally sound, without sacrificing design intent. 

This publication is designed for: architects, builders, engineers, designers 

The project team integrated a range of engineered wood products, including oriented strand board (OSB), plywood sheathing, glued-laminated beams (glulam), and laminated veneer lumber (LVL), into the building's lateral force-resisting system and floor assemblies. These products enabled the team to overcome complex structural challenges posed by the sloped site and mixed concrete-and-wood construction, while keeping the project within its $28 million budget.  

Choosing engineered wood over steel delivered measurable advantages in both material costs and construction efficiency. The design team also leveraged the Force Transfer Around Openings (FTAO) method to maximize window openings throughout the structure. 

Published by APA — The Engineered Wood Association.