Well on 28th - Single-Stair Housing proposal

1st Place Winning Project

1st Place Winner - PNW Dreams: Single Stair Design Competition

https://pnwdreams.org/

Project Name: Well on 28th
Type: Academic Graduate Project
Course: Graduate Design Studio
Date: 2026
Location: Portland, OR
Type: Multi-family housing
Team Project

Section Perspective

Project description

This typology creates a clean four-unit-per-floor configuration and allows each unit to retain two full sides of windows, enabling effective cross-ventilation and well-illuminated spaces. It also allows the floor plate to span from property line to property line, letting family-sized units fit into infill lots. When a split level is added, the stair circulation becomes more efficient and allows the central courtyard space to expand, creating implied front porches at each unit, giving the project a social yet secluded interior courtyard.

Shane Boland, Director of Development at Owen Gabbert

Floor Plans

Typical upper lever floor plan (above) Ground level floor plan (below)

Competition boards

PNW Dreams Single Stair Design Competition - Submitted boards

Press coverage

Sightline Institute - Introducing the New Neighborhood Apartment