(Nine Peaks | Rendering courtesy of LRS Architects)
LRS Architects announces the groundbreakings of three affordable housing communities designed by the firm across Central Oregon — Wickiup Station Apartments in La Pine, Nine Peaks in Bend and Trinity Place in Sisters. LRS provided architecture and interior design services, land use planning and related services for all three projects, each of which is designed to meet rigorous sustainable design certification standards.
“All three of these projects have an important role to play in addressing an urgent housing crisis that impacts all of Central Oregon, and has a ripple effect across the state,” said LRS President Trish Nixon, a managing principal and multifamily housing leader. “LRS is committed to quality housing for all, and we are proud to lead the design of affordable housing projects that contribute to the resilience and vibrancy of the region.”
Wickiup Station Apartments — 52695 Drafter Road, La Pine
Wickiup Station Apartments is a three-story complex with 39 units and shared amenities totaling 46,847 square feet. The La Pine affordable housing project is estimated to be completed in the summer of 2026 on behalf of the Foundation for Affordable Housing. The affordable community is dedicated for households earning at or below 30-60% of the area’s median income, with ten units reserved for veterans. The building is designed for universal accessibility, anticipating the needs of disabled veterans and seniors. It features enclosed breezeways to make circulation more comfortable year-round, sheltering residents from heavy snowfall in winter and from high summer temperatures up to 90 degrees.
The contemporary design aesthetic, particularly the butterfly roof, creates a modern and dynamic architectural statement. The roof will also have an 85-kilowatt photovoltaic array that will lower the electricity costs of the building. The design team optimized the building envelope to meet Earth Advantage Platinum Certification, exceeding code requirements for thermal performance with high R-values in the walls, contributing to improved sound transmission control, and high R-values in the attic insulation to significantly reduce the cooling and heating requirements for the building.
Upon completion, the property will feature a range of amenities, including a large community room, game rooms, a fitness area and a common deck with mountain views. The grounds will also include a playground, raised bed gardens, covered bike storage and natural areas, fostering a sense of community and well-being among residents.
Nine Peaks — 2720 NE Conners, Bend
Located on the northeast side of Bend, Nine Peaks is a three-story, garden-style apartment community with 45 units, featuring a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes totaling 47,234 square feet. The community is expected to be completed in the summer of 2026 on behalf of Housing Works at a construction cost of $10.7 million. Once completed, the upper west-facing stories will gain breathtaking views of nine mountain peaks, giving the building its name.
The building’s contemporary architecture blends gable and half-butterfly rooflines to create a modern profile. Designed with Central Oregon’s dramatic weather in mind, the building’s enclosed breezeway connectors offer residents protection from the high desert’s temperature swings and the elements. Nine Peaks has also been designed to meet Earth Advantage Platinum Certification, including future solar panel installation on the roof. Each unit is equipped with high-efficiency mini split systems for heating and cooling — an investment in comfort and lower utility costs for residents.
Trinity Place — 302 N. Trinity Way, Sisters
The final affordable housing project set to break ground at the end of 2025, Trinity Place, is a 40-unit three-story complex with one-, two- and three-bedroom apartment homes totaling 49,174 square feet. The project located in Sisters is estimated to be completed in the spring of 2027 on behalf of Northwest Housing Alternatives at a construction cost of $12.8 million. Durability, sustainability and fire resilience are the main design focuses, incorporating fire-resistant materials and defensible space landscaping. The larger goal of the development is to provide housing for folks who are essential to the Sisters community but have been priced out of the area or are overburdened by local housing costs. Many of the units on the property will be reserved for local agricultural workers, forestry professionals — some of whom are involved in wildfire prevention efforts — and families who work in Sisters with children in the local school system.
The site has many large, beautiful ponderosa pines that have been incorporated into the community. A National Green Building Standard (NGBS) Certification will be applied for, as this complex incorporates numerous green design and construction practices that emphasize water and energy efficiency, site design, building operations and maintenance best practices, indoor environmental quality and the use of sustainable materials that reduce waste and promote recycling.
“It is really exciting to see these projects break ground,” said Matt Dreska, senior associate. “Our goal is to design high-quality, affordable housing that can withstand the climate and the high desert, and we always put resident comfort first. These projects can have a huge impact on the livability of La Pine, Sisters and Bend.”
About LRS Architects:
LRS Architects is a majority women-owned architecture and interior design firm based in Portland and Bend, Oregon. Founded in 1976, LRS specializes in design for the automotive, civic, commercial office and workplace, multifamily housing, retail and senior living sectors, with projects represented in over 30 states and internationally. The award-winning practice is driven by 100+ design professionals with a passion for good design that goes beyond aesthetics to create vibrant, resilient spaces that enhance human well-being. The firm’s diverse portfolio is tied together by a design philosophy of empathy, creativity and collaboration and backed by a deep reputation for excellent client service. LRS is a certified WBE through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, participates in the International Living Future Institute’s Just Label program, and has been named an Oregon Top Workplace Award Winner annually since 2016. Their work has been featured in dozens of publications.
About Foundation for Affordable Housing:
For over 35 years, The Foundation for Affordable Housing has been a preferred partner of many of the nation’s premiere real estate development companies. The organization is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit corporation. They pride themselves on easing the burden of State, County and Local Housing Authorities through the construction, acquisition and operation of low-income and senior housing. For information on leasing a unit, please email contact@ffah.org.
About Housing Works:
Housing Works is the largest affordable housing provider in Central Oregon. It provides people with quality, safe and affordable homes; and through a number of collaborations, it provides the resources to help people stabilize their lives. Housing Works developments in Bend, Redmond, Prineville, Madras and Sisters have won awards for innovation, economic impact, design and beautification.
About Northwest Housing Alternatives:
Founded in 1982, Northwest Housing Alternatives (NHA) is the leading not-for-profit developer of affordable housing in Oregon. Our mission is to create opportunity through housing. To that end, NHA develops, builds and manages rental housing designed for Oregonians with extremely limited incomes; most NHA households earn less than $22,000 per year. These homes help families live healthy and stable lives, allow older adults to age in place, and give people with disabilities a dignified residence. Along with providing affordable housing, NHA provides services that connect tenants to critical health and community resources, work to prevent homelessness before it begins, and offer emergency shelter and services for families experiencing homelessness. NHA has developed affordable housing in 17 Oregon counties and manages a portfolio of over 2,500 units across 101 properties. Our residents collectively save more than $24.2 million each year by living in NHA properties compared to market rate rents. Each night, more than 3,400 people are sheltered in NHA properties. NHA has been recognized as a fiscally sound organization and annual audits have never revealed a material weakness or internal control deficiency.
