Bluebird on East and Bluebird on Nine
Way Finders
Bluebird on East and Bluebird on Nine are two innovative and sustainable residential communities located in Amherst, Massachusetts. These developments are designed to meet the growing demand for affordable, high-density housing in the area, while also addressing the need for environmentally conscious design.
Bluebird on East includes the renovation of a historic school building for adaptive reuse, creating 6 beautiful and unique apartments within a local landmark. The site also includes the new construction of 23 more units of housing, built in a traditional New England style, and connected to the existing school building with a sleek, modern lobby. Bluebird on Nine is fully new construction and provides 43 units of affordable housing. Both sites feature amenities and communal spaces for residents, including a multi-purpose community room at each site, located adjacent to a landscaped, communal courtyard, enabling resident events to spill out onto the plaza in nicer weather.
Both developments are designed for Passive House certification, a rigorous set of design standards focused on minimizing energy consumption and reducing carbon emissions. Each development will incorporate solar panels for clean energy generation, as well a highly engineered building envelope designed to minimize energy loss. Both developments are also located on wetlands, which presents a unique design challenge but also offers an attractive natural amenity to residents. The East Street site features a community playing field, while the property at Route Nine is adjacent to walking paths through the wetlands.