Three of the Magnusson Architecture and Planning’s (MAP) developments also received the added recognition of a Blue Ribbon for Design Excellence Award from the Architectural League of New York.
This competition supports Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s nation-leading climate goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which place New York State on a path to economy-wide carbon neutrality and mandates an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
MAP’s four winners, Dekalb Commons, Linden Boulevard Phase III, Cooper Park Commons Building Two, and The Rise are the firm’s latest achievements in a decades-long commitment to exceptional design and performance in affordable housing.
Located in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighbourhood of Brooklyn, Dekalb Commons will be Passive House certified and incorporate the most replicable, attractive, and effective strategies for near net zero operational energy, onsite energy generation, embodied carbon reduction measures, decarbonisation and full electrification, actionable management tools, healthy living and resiliency.
The 85 unit development with twin buildings across Dekalb Avenue will offer a unique opportunity for data collection and comparison. Nonprofit developers St. Nicks Alliance and Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation have also committed to sharing that information, in order to help others produce the next generation of truly sustainable communities.
Linden Boulevard Phase III is the third and final phase in a three-building affordable housing development in the East New York neighbourhood of Brooklyn. The building, by Radson Development will provide tenants safe, comfortable housing with access to community services. The project team is uniquely situated to learn from the design and early construction of Phases I and II, the latter is a Buildings of Excellence winner in Round one. Each building has progressed in expected performance and energy efficiency strategies and Phase III will be the most efficient, sustainable, resilient, and high performing of the three.
With highly efficient, electric heating, cooling, ventilation, and domestic hot water systems Linden Boulevard Phase III will be a fully electric building and operations will not contribute any on-site greenhouse gas emissions. The electrification of buildings coupled with increased energy efficiency and the continued scaling up of renewable energy efforts across the state all combine to decarbonise buildings in New York.
Cooper Park Commons Building two, an 18 storey, 100% affordable housing is part of a multi building development by Hudson Companies and St. Nicks Alliance on the former Greenpoint Hospital site in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The 311 unit building has been designed with associate architect Architecture Outfit and energy consultant Steven Winter Associates.
In an effort to minimise the carbon emissions of the building, the design team is committed to achieving LEED for Homes v4 Gold and Passive House International certifications. As a result of this focus on sustainable design, Building two will achieve energy cost savings over a typical new construction affordable housing development, and will also provide enhanced indoor air quality, comfort, health, and resiliency for the tenant community. The project team is committed to pursuing these design features in a cost-efficient manner and maximising the operating expense savings they yield. The project will utilise a broad array of funding sources available for mixed-use developments, creating a financially replicable model for sustainable, community-driven campus-style affordable housing developments.
The Rise-Site J, is a 72 unit fully electric, mixed use building with supportive and affordable housing for justice-involved families. The development, by Xenolith Partners, CPC and the Brownsville Partnership, and services through the Women’s Prison Association and the Osborn Association will be Passive House certified and meet Enterprise Green Communities standards. As part of the Governor’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, it will offer cost effective solutions that reduce energy consumption, improve health, and build resilience in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Featuring state of the art heat pump water heaters for domestic hot water, VRF heat pumps for heating and cooling, energy recovery ventilators, solar PV system for onsite energy generation, rooftop gardens, and green roofs and walls, The Rise-Site J will promote sustainable living and help the industry advance towards a low carbon future.