Camino Colibri, a 34-unit affordable housing community, was designed for agricultural workers in Southern Oregon. Developed in response to the 2020 Almeda Fire—the most destructive wildfire in Oregon’s recorded history—the project supports families displaced by the loss of more than 2,600 homes across southern Oregon. MG2 partnered with local organizations to create a multifamily complex that brings residents together into shared spaces reflective of their values.

Working closely with CASA of Oregon and Coalición Fortaleza, the design team listened intently to local voices that helped to inform key decisions, including site configuration, shared spaces, unit layouts, and interior features. Open kitchens were prioritized to accommodate family cooking and gatherings. Residences were designed to maximize natural daylight and include balconies and patios that connect to outdoor areas. Windows face the playground, allowing parents to keep an eye on their children while cooking.

Camino Colibri is made up of three residential buildings bordering a shared lawn, playground, and communal garden—spaces intended to encourage daily interaction and social connection. The community building includes meeting spaces, a shared kitchen, a covered patio, outdoor barbeques, and a basketball court.

The name Camino Colibri—or “path of the hummingbird”—was chosen by the community. Representing resilience and the residents’ connection to agricultural work, the hummingbird is featured in two larger-than-life murals on the development’s exterior, visible from the sidewalk.

Camino Colibri addresses a need for affordable housing in the region and reflects MG2’s collaborative, community-informed approach to design.

Farmdale is an innovative farmworker housing development in Woodburn, Oregon. A replacement for a 1970s Rural Development complex, Farmdale seamlessly blends into the surrounding residential fabric by breaking up the massing to resemble a series of gabled homes. To break down the scale even further and embrace the context of the neighborhood, vibrant colors of the exterior mirror the warmth of a family neighborhood. Farmdale fosters a sense of community and connection, offering expansive outdoor spaces that include playing fields, gardens, and playgrounds.

Interior spaces are organized to stimulate spontaneous meetings between neighbors, whether it is by encouraging the use of the open stair or by treating the mailroom or laundry facilities as true communal functions. The two-story community room functions as the heart of the project, providing multi-use purpose for many occasions.

At MG2, designing for community means creating spaces that respond to the needs and voices of the people who will use them. It requires deep engagement focused on actively listening to resident priorities coupled with a commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and long-term functionality. The community engagement session with Farmdale residents was held in both Spanish and English and focused on capturing community priorities and encouraged residents to vote on various programmatic elements.