Cleveland Heights ADU Competition
People's Choice Winner
500 SF Auxilary Dwelling UNit
Location: Cleveland Heights, OH
November 2024
In light of the present housing crisis, unique and innovative solutions are needed more than ever to address high costs and a shortage of supply. Housing prices have jumped since the pandemic. Auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to increase the affordable housing supply. Universal Dwelling looks at creating an ADU for the City of Cleveland Heights that is accessible, sustainable, and affordable.
Universal design was central to the development of interior spaces. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards were used as a basis for the layout and organization of rooms. Wheelchair turning radii are noted on the floor plan for reference. This includes the kitchen and bathrooms – two areas often lacking accessibility in traditional homes. Ageing in place was also a key consideration. The proposed design is a single level plan without exterior steps.
Affordable construction and sustainable design led to the proposal of a novel construction method for the ADU. Instead of traditional wood stud framing, the ADU would be constructed using structural insulated panels (SIP). SIP panels are sandwich structured composites consisting of rigid insulation between plywood or OSB boards. Sandwich structure composite means materials are layered together with high strength glue and pressure. SIPs are a modular system fabricated in a factory and then delivered to the site. This has the cost benefit of less on-site labor and the sustainable upside of minimized construction waste because of the increased precision of factory fabrication. The design of the ADU looked to minimize waste further by designing the unit to the standard size of a SIP panel – 4’ x 8’. Additional sustainable benefits are gained by the higher thermal performance of a SIP system. In traditional stud framing – where insulation is placed in the cavity between studs – each stud acts are a thermal break. The insulation in a SIP wall is continuous.
While practical considerations were central to the units planning, aesthetic design cannot be discounted. Cleveland Heights is a city with a rich architectural history and range of styles. Striking a deliberate contrast between the ADU and adjacent homes was central to the exterior design of the unit. The proposed design needs to be able to share a lot with any home in the city. For that reason, a simplified contemporary form was selected, able to sit beside and compliment any architectural style.