Pointe Common

Fullerton, CA

About

From Public Works Yard to Family-Centered Community

Quick Facts

Location

Fullerton, CA

Practice Theme

Housing for All, Building Community + Place

What We Did

Architecture, Landscape

Size

2.5 acres

Project Details

Located in Fullerton, Pointe Common is a 2.5-acre triangular parcel accommodating 65 affordable homes designed for families. The site is the result of consolidating a city-owned Public Works yard.

The neighborhood directly to the north is comprised of one- and two-story single-family homes that expressed concerns about both height and density. The design responds by concentrating the tallest massing at the south end of the site, stepping down two stories with a generous setback averaging thirty-five feet to the residential neighborhood on the north. The large setback includes lush landscaping, resulting in almost one acre of open space, with additional planting added to Commonwealth’s median to further enhance the neighborhood. The architectural style takes inspiration from traditional house forms with sloped roofs, smaller windows, wood siding, warm colors, and porches.

Various outdoor amenities include a tot lot and children’s playroom adjacent to the communal laundry room. The tot lot play equipment includes locomotive-themed equipment sitting on bands of alternating green and yellow stripes, reminiscent of Fullerton’s agrarian past. Other features include a picnic area with BBQs, flexible fitness lawn space, an herb garden, and a community room and co-work area.

Families have access to many amenities nearby. Within a ten-minute walk are five parks, one dedicated to dogs, schools, and academies, as well as neighborhood-serving retail including a gym, restaurant, coffee and flower shop. Within a ten-minute bike ride there is a grocery store, the Fullerton Amtrak station, a municipal airport, and an office and industrial district serving as a job center.

There is a diversity of units including one, two, and three bedrooms. Flexibility of unit interior space accommodates a variety of lifestyles, such as work from home with office or study niches for children. Units fronting open spaces have large balconies that serve as an additional outdoor room, connecting residents to nature.

The murals along the sound wall were created by Spanish artist Rubén Sánchez, known for his large-scale public artwork, with murals installed in cities across Europe and the United States. His work is recognizable for its bold colors, geometric shapes, and abstract human figures. Drawing from influences like architecture and modern art, his murals explore everyday human experience, resulting in a place where art, architecture, and community intersect.