Sonrisa

Sonrisa is the first project to break ground under Governor Newsom’s Executive Order for Affordable Housing Development. It constitutes some of the first mass timber construction in California blocks from the state capital. As such, Sonrisa represents a benchmark for mass timber’s future multi-family residential applications in California. Holmes is proud to provide structural engineering for Sonrisa, an emblem for more sustainably built housing in the Golden State. Sonrisa will provide government-funded public housing in a five-story, mixed-use building. The structural system is light wood framing paired with exposed Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) elements. 

Sonrisa’s ground-floor will showcase retail/cafe space: two exposed CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) shear walls secured by custom connections will invite passersby in with the natural appeal of wood. Levels two through five will hold affordable housing units. The fifth floor will feature an outdoor community space with exposed glulam beams and columns, plus a landscaped terrace.