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When most people think of Cape Cod, they think of sandy beaches, hydrangeas, and fried clams. But through a collaboration between Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), Boston-based architectural firm DREAM Collaborative, and ReVision Energy, the Cape now also boasts a solar-powered affordable housing community.
Located on town-owned land in Mashpee, LeClair Village is a family community made up of 39 affordable homes across three buildings. The development features 14 one-bedroom apartments, 21 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom apartments. Eight homes will have rents subsidized through Project-Based Vouchers.
In July 2024 ReVision installed 325 solar panels across the community, creating a 156 kW rooftop solar array. In total, it will generate 167,906 kWh of clean solar energy every year, offsetting the community's electric bills and reducing the overall carbon footprint.
The development represents an 11% increase in the town’s affordable housing stock – a significant boost in a high-cost market where many seasonal employees and others struggle to find stable housing that they can afford.
The property is named after Mary LeClair, a long-time Mashpee civic leader who continues to advocate for housing and other causes at the age of 88. LeClair Village is designed to be certified passive house under the strict Passive House Institute of the US (PHIUS) standard. The enclosure (slab, walls, windows, and roof) is highly insulated and air-tight with mechanized ventilation. This provides excellent air quality and comfort to the residents. Due to the high-performance enclosure, and the generous rooftop solar arrays, the buildings are able to produce as much energy as they consume.
ReVision also partnered with POAH and DREAM Collaborative on the Kenzi, a senior-living space in Roxbury which is Boston's first all-electric midrise to incorporate a battery backup system for emergency power. ReVision's Commercial Solar Consultant Andy Toomajian worked with the team on both projects.
"Over my time working in solar, I've seen the best outcomes on projects where renewable energy is considered during the design phase," said Andy. "Working with POAH, DREAM Collaborative, and Delphi Construction on the LeClair project is a perfect example of how careful coordination can deliver great results. Using input we provided on the initial design, DREAM Collaborative was able to make small but significant changes to the rooflines that increased both the capacity and output of solar array. Through meetings with POAH and Delphi, we were able to have provisions to connect the solar arrays to the building electrical service provided by the building electrical contractor, simplifying sequencing during construction and reducing project costs. We are proud to have worked as part of this team to bring attractive and affordable high-performance housing to Mashpee."
Sara Kudra, previously at DREAM Collaborative and now at Architecture Towards Neutral, agreed:
"When our design team inherited the project, the landscape architect had sited the three buildings to work with the topography of the parcel and the plan had been approved. We stepped in and simplified the massing by offsetting the gable to create a salt-box profile, a common vernacular for the Cape. By extending the slope and modifying the dormers to be a shed along the south exposure, we greatly increased the PV production capacity of the site while bringing an updated look to the project. Fewer dormers also makes Passive house detailing simpler, ensuring a high-quality, airtight enclosure. Ultimately, this was enough to get the project to net zero."
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