flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Bronx residents get LEED Platinum public housing complex, rooftop farm

Bronx residents get LEED Platinum public housing complex, rooftop farm

$37.7 million affordable housing development combines local/recycled materials and a 'green wall' in the lobby.


By BD+C Staff | February 27, 2013
Residents of energy-efficient complex will reap the benefits of hydropon farm.
Residents of energy-efficient complex will reap the benefits of a hydroponic farm.

The New York City Housing Authority has opened Arbor House, a 124-unit complex in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx. The LEED Platinum building includes energy-efficient HVAC, a "green wall" lobby feature, and a 10,000-sf hydroponic farm on the roof.

Designed by ABS Architects, the $37.7 million facility is the result of a collaboration between the NYCHA, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, and Blue Sea Development. The public-private initiative was part of a city program to recruit private companies to develop dilapidated and vacant NYCHA land. About 2,000 units in the program are currently under construction or in pre-development in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Arbor House, an eight-story building, contains 16 studios, 33 one-bedroom apartments, and 75 two-bedroom apartments, plus superintendent quarters. Residents must earn less than 60% of the area median income ($49,800 for a family of four). Residents will start moving in during the next few weeks. HPD spokesperson RuthAnne Visnauskas says the city is pushing for more sustainable design in its public housing facilities. The rooftop farm, a first for the agency, will be operated by third party Sky Vegetables and is expected to generate money by selling produce commercially, with some of the yield set aside for building residents and other local families.

About $37 million of the project cost was subsidized via local, state, and city subsidies, Reso A funds, tax credit equities, and tax-exempt bonds. 

(http://observer.com/2013/02/an-arbor-in-the-forest-green-affordable-housing-development-opens-in-the-bronx/)

Related Stories

| Nov 20, 2012

PC Construction completes Juniper Hall at Champlain College

Juniper Hall is on track for LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

| Nov 14, 2012

U.S. Green Building Council partners with Pearson

Partnership will help further USGBC’s mission by advancing green building education

| Nov 14, 2012

U.S. Green Building Council announces grant from Google to catalyze transformation of building materials industry and indoor health

Focus is on healthy building materials to promote indoor environmental quality and human health

| Nov 14, 2012

USGBC's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo kicks off in San Francisco

7,000 members of the green building industry convene for opening plenary headlined by "Morning Joe" co-hosts Mika Brzezinksi and Joe Scarborough

| Nov 13, 2012

Have colleges + universities gone too far with "Quality of Life" buildings?

We'd like your input - recent projects, photo/s, renderings, and expert insight - on an important article we're working on for our Jan 2013 issue

| Nov 13, 2012

Turner Construction’s green building Market Barometer reveals new findings on green building and certification

Respondents indicated a widespread commitment to sustainable practices

| Nov 13, 2012

Soladigm announces new glass product, changes company name to View, Inc.

Glass is installed and operating at W San Francisco adjacent to the 2012 Greenbuild show

| Nov 13, 2012

Sto Corp. announces appointment of new CMO

Bottema will be responsible for all corporate marketing, product management and sales activities.

| Nov 13, 2012

2012 LEED for Homes Award recipients announced

USGBC recognizes excellence in the green residential building community at its Greenbuild Conference & Expo in San Francisco

| Nov 12, 2012

PCI Skanska celebrates 40-year anniversary

Since its creation, PCI Skanska has provided EPC services to clients for more than 40 years.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Warehouses

California bill would limit where distribution centers can be built

A bill that passed the California legislature would limit where distribution centers can be located and impose other rules aimed at reducing air pollution and traffic. Assembly Bill 98 would tighten building standards for new warehouses and ban heavy diesel truck traffic next to sensitive sites including homes, schools, parks and nursing homes.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021