A First for Rhode Island: West House II Sets a New Standard for Senior Housing
What does it look like when high-performance design serves people who need it most?
West House II, a 54-unit affordable senior housing community in Middletown, recently earned Phius CORE 2021 Design Certification—making it the first passive house senior housing project in the state of Rhode Island.
The three-story building serves residents aged 55 and older, offering one- and two-bedroom apartments for those earning up to 60% of area median income. It connects to the adjacent West House I, sharing amenities including a chapel, library, and fitness rooms. But what distinguishes this project is the building envelope: enhanced insulation, airtight construction, high-performance windows, and balanced ventilation that dramatically reduce energy use while improving thermal comfort and indoor air quality.
These aren’t abstract benefits for this population. Older adults spend more time indoors, are more vulnerable to temperature extremes, and often live on fixed incomes where utility costs force difficult tradeoffs. Passive house design responds directly—delivering stable temperatures, fresh filtered air, and lower operating costs for the people who need them most.
For Rhode Island, facing both a housing affordability crisis and an aging population, West House II demonstrates that high-performance senior housing is achievable here, with our climate, contractors, and funding mechanisms. The path is now open for what comes next.
For all of us here at Union, this first Phius CORE 21 certification bolstered our internal knowledge, deepened collaboration across the team, and established passive house principles that have become foundational to how we practice. We expect this is the first of many as we continue shaping a more sustainable built environment!
West House II was designed by Union Studio in partnership with Church Community Housing Corporation and LISC, following Rhode Island Housing standards.