Waterleaf Apartments is a unique project that leverages market-rate materials and available retail space in a considerate way to elevate the resident experience and fit into the surrounding area. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience in an upscale, family-oriented neighborhood. A welcome addition to Portland’s River Place neighborhood, Waterleaf Apartments are complete with ample amenities tailored to families and individuals of all backgrounds. The affordable housing complex provides residents with a venue to take the next step in life. A layered base with contrasting light and dark brick masonry, paired with metal panels, cloaks Waterleaf with an impression of movement. Connections to a streetcar track directly outside influence the site’s frontage, playing up the sense of motion. Multiple design elements connect Waterleaf with its sister site, The Vera, both physically and thematically. Among these connections is the sunny, south-facing courtyard placed between the two buildings. The courtyard also connects to the nearby transit station. Designed together, a shared color palette visually joins the two buildings and establishes the entire block they’re stationed on as a cohesive location. Available commercial and retail space on the ground floor – designed for both small businesses and larger offices – transform Waterleaf’s vicinity from a residential block to a neighborhood connected by an encompassing sense of community.