PAH! Hiland Plaza Apartment Community

The PAH! Hiland Plaza Apartment Community is a groundbreaking development specifically built to cater to the unique needs of the deaf and blind community in New Mexico by Owner Sol Housing.

This innovative project was built with the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Deaf+, and Hard-of-Hearing communities in mind and aims to provide a safe, accessible, and inclusive living environment that empowers individuals with sensory impairments and promotes independent living. The development features 92 apartment units with one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts. It also includes a small community park. PAH! Hiland Plaza Apartment Community is unique and one of only five communities like it in the U.S.

Located in a convenient and centrally accessible area, the PAH! Hiland Plaza Apartment Community features a range of thoughtfully built residential units. Each apartment is equipped with visual and tactile aids that facilitate effective communication and navigation.

The project was built to achieve a LEED Platinum certification and to prioritize safety/ease of movement. Common areas, such as corridors, elevators, and recreational spaces, were carefully planned to accommodate the specific needs of the deaf and blind community. Jaynes Structures self-performed the millwork for this project which included incorporating unit casework, countertops, and commercial space work.

PAH! Hiland Plaza Apartment Community won the prestigious Audrey Nelson Award from the National Community Development Association (NCDA) for its outstanding role in developing affordable housing for the Deaf, Deaf-Blind, and Hard of Hearing. Sol Housing was also awarded the MFA Housing Summit Housing Innovation Award and the 2024 ULI Terwilliger Innovation Award for this project.