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Original Title: Join us this Thursday, Feb. 3, for our ADU Hot Cocoa Mixer
Original Author: Zack Semke
Originally Posted on: January 28th, 2011
Hammer & Hand President Sam Hagerman and our project team will show-off the high performance features of this super energy efficient Accessory Dwelling Unit.
Maybe I shouldn’t be, but I’m always surprised by how quickly a building project can develop when you’re not looking. Just last Wednesday I wrote here about our high performance accessory dwelling unit and shared photos of its innovative shallow grade-beam foundation on foam. Today, what was just foundation (albeit, a special, superinsulated one) has become a bona fide building.
See this timelapse video for the latest progress on the project.
Speaking of the invitation, please join us this Thursday, February 3, from 3 to 5 pm, at 5325 Northeast 32nd Avenue, for hot cocoa, coffee, and conversation about ADUs and advanced green building strategies. We’re hoping the weather will hold out for us, and even if it doesn’t, we’ll have nice warm beverages in hand to ward off the elements.
-Zack
P.S. For more information about Accessory Dwelling Units (aka Backyard Cottages, Granny Flats, Mother-In-Law Apartments…) visit our ADU page which includes a nice graphic illustrating the development type’s intergenerational flexibility, a slideshow of ADU images, and links to ADU blog posts.
Original Title: Timelapse: construction of super-efficient ADU
Original Author: Zack Semke
Originally Posted on: February 1st, 2011
This video captures the initial construction phase of the high performance ADU that we’ll showcase this Thursday (Feb. 3) at our Hot Cocoa Mixer.
From foundation to framing to insulation, this timelapse video shows the initial construction process of this super-efficient granny flat in Northeast Portland. Join us on Thursday, Feb. 3 to learn more.
P.S. Thanks to Hammer & Hand’s Skylar Swinford for setting up and shooting this video. Stay tuned for more…
Original Title: February 3 Hot Cocoa Mixer at Our (In-Progress) High Performance ADU
Original Author: Zack Semke
Originally Posted on: February 3rd, 2011
Please join us at the jobsite to chat about this super-efficient accessory dwelling unit, see the work in progress, and enjoy some delicious hot cocoa (or coffee). Hammer & Hand’s Sam Hagerman will be joined by the project team to discuss this building’s fusion of high energy performance and small size. (See this timelapse video for the latest progress on the project.)
Details on the event are on this invitation below…
Original Title: Report from last week’s ADU Hot Cocoa Mixer
Original Author: Zack Semke
Originally Posted on: February 11th, 2011
A big thank you to all who attended … let the Accessory Dwelling Unit construction boom commence!
On a cold but dry day last week we were joined by several dozen folks from all points on the ADU and Building Performance spectra: from die-hard aficionados to curious newbies and everything in between. We were all there to enjoy some nice hot cocoa and learn about the powerful convergence between small building footprint and high energy performance. I took some snapshots during the event…
The above photo shows the crowd in conversation, with the in-progress ADU to the right and the primary (existing) house in the background. When completed, the ADU will draw very little energy for heating, thanks to a superinsulated building envelope and smart application of quality windows and doors (and other concepts borrowed from the Passive House playbook). So, in addition to all of the environmental, urban design, and intergenerational benefits of ADUs, the ongoing operational cost of the building will be super low. Given that one of the key selling points of ADUs is how they “pencil” (ie. rental income can easily exceed debt service and other ongoing expenses), the low future utility bills for the unit will mean more positive cash flow for the owners.
The concrete floor hadn’t quite dried, so we weren’t able to actually walk inside, but the large entry (future home of a three-part door assembly) provided ample view of the space. And don’t let the Tyvek fool you, this envelope is special. A thick layer of EPS foam encases the building (and the entire building sits on 6 inches of structural foam.)
Here our own Sam Hagerman discusses the building’s superinsulated, airtight walls with two mixer-goers.
Sam discusses the floor plan of the building with another guest. Dan Lajoie of Departure Design is the architect and design collaborator for the project, and drew up those plans. The per square foot cost of the building is an affordable $143.
On another ADU-related front, our contact at Washington Federal, Alex Hoffman, is trailblazing the ADU lending process … and we’re almost there. At the event I actually spoke with Shawn Busse (creator of the Portland Built blog) who is working with Alex to get the first construction loan (at least that I know of) to finance the construction of an ADU. This is exciting stuff, because with the rollback of system development charges on ADUs and the relaxation of ADU square footage limits, the last hurdle to ADU development was financing. That’s about to be officially overcome (crossing fingers), and we can really get to work.
Thanks again to everyone who joined us last Thursday. It was great to see you all there! And thank you, also, to our generous clients for allowing us to stage the event.
-Zack
Original Title: TODAY: Open House at our super-efficient ADU, Thurs 4-6pm – read more here.
Original Author: Zack Semke
Originally Posted on: April 21st, 2011
Tour Hammer & Hand’s just-completed, high performance Accessory Dwelling Unit and learn about the home from our own Sam Hagerman and Departure Design’s Dan Lajoie.
Join us today (Thursday, April 21) for an Open House at Hammer & Hand’s brand new, super-efficient Accessory Dwelling Unit. The event (details here) will run from 4-6 pm at 5325 NE 32nd Avenue and will feature project team members Sam 
Hagerman (President of Hammer & Hand), Skylar Swinford (our resident building energy expert), Abe Sheppard (Lead Carpenter), and Dan Lajoie (Principal at Departure Design).
Sam and friends will show off the cutting-edge elements of the project in person, many of which are touched on in a previous post, “Green Accessory Dwelling Unit shows that both size and performance matter”, namely: 1. Shallow grade-beam foundation on foam; 2. Advanced framing; 3. Monolithic insulation; 4. Airtight construction: and 5. Affordability.
Also, don’t miss this time-lapse video of the construction process for the ADU, from foundation to building wrap.
While the home is entirely completed and landscaped (by Shapiro Didway Landscape Architecture), I thought I’d tease you with some SketchUp renderings courtesy of Departure Design (see below). Please come see the real deal in person and check out how it looks and feels from the inside.
– Zack
