The Odelya

Firm:

Awards Category

Unbuilt Architecture

Project Summary

This multi-family project consists of 44 dwelling units over three stories with private shared ground-level parking. The units are primarily 350sqft micro apartments with built-in casework to minimize residents’ upfront costs and provide a fully functional space as soon as they move in. The larger 560sqft units provide a larger living area with private balconies. Tall, narrow windows line the east and west facades, providing ample daylight for every resident. A shared laundry/mailroom is provided on the ground floor, with space allocated in each unit for a personal washer and dryer for further convenience. The existing bus stop paired with the allocated bike storage provides residents with a variety of transportation methods along a major city transit corridor.

Project Narrative

East Las Vegas is a vibrant community, and the area’s demographics primarily consist of working-class immigrants of Hispanic background. For the past several years, Las Vegas has found itself in an affordable housing crisis. As of 2025, there is an estimated shortage of fifty-eight thousand homes in the valley. East Las Vegas residents have been hit the hardest as the majority of the community are renters with median incomes lower than the national and county averages. It is becoming increasingly difficult for newcomers and emerging young adults to find affordable living arrangements. When approaching this project, our goals are to provide affordable housing opportunities for community members, reflect the historic vernacular of Las Vegas, and support the 2050 Las Vegas Masterplan by increasing density along transit corridors and promoting walkable neighborhoods. The Odelya consists of 44 studio apartment units. Each unit includes a kitchen/dining area, a bedroom/living area, a bathroom, and additional storage. The kitchen casework extends into the living area, acting as additional storage, a media console, and a desk surface. The style of the architecture is reminiscent of mid-century buildings throughout Las Vegas, many of which are long gone. With many multi-family buildings becoming stylistically homogenized in recent years throughout the U.S., we endeavored to design a building that truly speaks to Las Vegas' midcentury vernacular. Inspired by the butterfly roofs, sawtooth facades, large overhangs, and exposed masonry commonly found through our architectural heritage, the Odelya celebrates the familiar. The sawtooth facade creates a rhythmic play of shadow and light that adds dynamism to this corner lot. Additionally, this form create bays for each unit that help modulate the low rising and setting sun while directing views towards the Frenchman Mountains on the north, or the Las Vegas skyline on the south. Masonry screen walls are used to protect the outdoor circulation space from the elements. The Odelya will stand to serve East Las Vegas' hardworking community, through locally-inspired design and climate-responsive strategies, it will honor the heritage of the area while paving a path forward.

Sustainable Design & Materials

The Odelya was designed to maximize envelope performance and passive cooling / shading strategies to combat the harsh Mojave Desert. The building envelope consists of structural insulated panels (SIPs) which mitigate heat gain and act as thermal barriers on the east and west facades. SIP panels significantly reduce the thermal breaks that are commonly seen in wood framing, creating a much more efficient thermal envelope. The east and west facades are characterized by their sawtooth design, which angles windows away from true east and west, reducing direct sunlight exposure and heat gain. Although simple, the facade creates a purposeful and rhythmic modulation while addressing building orientation. Additionally, with the size of each unit being relatively small, we are utilizing ductless mini-split HVAC systems, a significantly higher SEER rating than a typical ducted split system. The circulation of the building is entirely outdoors, allowing residents to have the opportunity to cross-ventilate their units. Larger units include north-facing balconies, providing an outdoor amenity that will be self-shaded by the building. Exterior finishes such as sand-finish white stucco and white roofing membrane maximize albedo and minimize the building's heat absorption. The surrounding landscape is composed of native vegetation such as palo verde trees, mexican feather grass, and creosote. Trees were strategically located in places where their canopies could shade the sidewalk / pedestrian realm, and parking areas to combat the urban heat island effect. Green color bands accenting the windows vertically help transition the building into the surrounding landscape.

Project Stats

Square Feet

20700

Green Building Designation(s)

Date of Completion

Project Location

Las Vegas, NV, USA