In 2006, construction was completed at Coddington Place, a mixed-use development for the Women’s Safety Resource Center (WSRC) in Coos Bay. The development includes office space for WSRC, 10 apartment units for women and their children escaping domestic violence, and a community facility for events, training, and meetings. These buildings are oriented around a central courtyard, complete with a community garden, children’s’ play structure and even dog kennels. Making room in the master plan for dog kennels was important since many women will not leave their abusers if they cannot take their pets with them.

The safety of both the facility and the women was one of the main objectives of the project. Since all of the buildings face the courtyard, all of the residents and staff at the WSRC have direct views of the central area. All residents and visitors must pass one of two lockable gates and through the courtyard to access the units. This increases the safety and comfort of the residents at Coddington Place. Adjacent to the central court, the dog kennels provide an additional level of security as the dogs bark upon the arrival of visitors to the site. In addition to security, the courtyard also provides a place to for the women to gather and develop meaningful, healthy relationships with other women who understand their circumstances.

The project features a solar hot water heating system for the residents, making a positive financial impact on the lives of the residents while also making a positive impact on the environment. On-demand hot water heaters are used in the offices and in the community building so that resources are not used to keep water in a tank hot when hot water is so infrequently used.

We worked with the Umpqua Community Development Corporation (U.C.D.C.) of Roseburg, and helped them secure funding for the project from State’s Consolidated Funding Cycle and U.S.D.A. Rural Development based upon our schematic design package. 

In 2008, Coddington Place won the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) 2008 Excellence Award in the category of Commitment to Special Needs Housing (Small Developments)