Harris County Housing Authority partnered with Watermark Construction to develop Cypresswood Estates, a high quality affordable housing community for seniors. Cypresswood Estates is HCHA’s first project seeking LEED Platinum certification through US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green rating program. To achieve established energy and environmental goals for this 88-unit senior development, HCHA and the project team is using the LEED for Homes residential program to guide the design and construction process. Planned features include an energy efficient building enclosure, water efficient plumbing fixtures, rainwater catchment, native landscaping, and healthy interior finishes.

Guy Rankin says this is just the start."I think everybody will do this in the future. I think it makes sense, especially with the limited resources out there. Government has limited resources, so most people are looking for smarter government. Not a bigger government, not a smaller government, but a smarter government and this is definitely the smart way to go."

Contects’ is working with the project team to balance the challenges of above-code building performance with affordability and a tight construction schedule, provide third-party quality assurance, and field verify the selected LEED measures.