Sustainable design is key winning element in 2008 Bank of America Low-Income Housing Challenge - May, 2008
Energy Efficiency Center Emerging Venture Analyst, Amy Barr, along with fellow UC Davis MBA students, 
Elizabeth Collett, Cassie Hilder, J-E Paino and Michael Alcheck, won the 2008 Low-Income Housing Challenge. The BofA Challenge began in 1992 as a regional competition for undergraduate and graduate student teams who design proposals for development of affordable housing. The competition this year included a category for green building design and concepts. Project proposals were judged by local professionals from a variety of fields within the housing industry, including project managers from non-profit developers, advocacy and trade organizations, tax-credit investors, lenders and architects. The proposal from the UC Davis team (SEED, Sustainable, Economical, Equitable Development Group), was entitled The Gateway at 7th & H Street and targets low-income, single room occupancy units in downtown Sacramento near 7th and H Street. Key goals of the proposal were sustainability in design and operation (a LEED silver certifiable building), creation of a supportive environment, and encouragement of community integration. This is the first year that UC Davis has won this competition.