Colibrí Commons | David Baker Architects

East Palo Alto CA | Completed

2025

Image of a courtyard and open-air circulation linking two wings of a large white building

Close to shopping, public transit, and the San Francisco Bay Trail, Colibrí Commons offers 136 affordable homes in four residential buildings framing a series of unique landscaped courtyards.

Entry plaza of white building with green hummingbird mural and bright green front door

A DBA-designed tile hummingbird mural and custom front door brighten the entry.

Image Credit

Bruce Damonte

Co-developed by MidPen Housing and EPACANDO, Colibrí Commons offers 136 affordable homes and a vibrant community hub—including a playground, community room, after-school learning center, and coworking space—to East Palo Alto, Calif.

Colibrí—Spanish for “hummingbird”—draws inspiration from East Palo Alto’s diverse hummingbird population. The design features hummingbird-inspired elevated bridges and walkways that provide residents with unique viewpoints into a series of framed courtyards and out toward city and nature views, enhancing the community’s connectivity.

An abandoned rail spur bordering the site has been revitalized into a multi-use walking and biking trail, connecting the community to the Bay and the San Francisco Bay Trail.