Grow Florin Village

Location:

Sacramento County, CA

Grow Florin Village is a rapidly delivered interim housing campus developed in partnership with Sacramento County and Enki Development Group to address urgent housing needs in South Sacramento. The project provides 72 beds on a one-acre site, organized as a compact, community-oriented campus with shared outdoor spaces and on-site services.

PROJECT DATA:

  • Location: Florin, Sacramento County, California

  • Client / Partners: Enki Development, HOPE Collaborative and Sacramento County

  • Role: Design Director

  • Program: Interim supportive housing campus for elderly and veterans

  • Beds: 72

  • Site Area: 1 acre

  • Timeline: ~9 months (grant award to move-in)

  • Cost: ~$75,000 per bed v. ~$150,000–$200,000 per bed industry standard

  • Delivery Method: Modular construction / Design / Build

Engblom Architecture served as Design Director from project inception, helping to frame the initial vision, assemble the campus plan, and translate program goals into a clear, fundable design strategy. This early design leadership supported the County’s successful $6 million state grant award, establishing a cohesive plan that aligned cost, speed, and constructability.

Working closely with the modular housing team, the project moved from grant award to resident move-in in approximately nine months, delivering housing at roughly $75,000 per bed—significantly below typical industry benchmarks of $150,000–$200,000 per bed. Design iterations emphasized efficiency and repeatability while maintaining daylight, privacy, and a sense of dignity at both the unit and campus scale.

Developed as a collaborative and personally meaningful civic effort, Grow Florin reflects Engblom Architecture’s belief that design excellence and social impact are not mutually exclusive. Even under extreme cost and schedule constraints, the project demonstrates how thoughtful planning and disciplined design can bring clarity, humanity, and long-term value to essential housing.

 

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