Mixed-use affordable housing project aims for zero waste

The Peninsula in the Bronx, N.Y., a mixed-use affordable housing campus, just opened its first phase. The development has a comprehensive plan to reduce waste, separate recyclable materials, and make it easy for residents to collect compostable materials.

The development, which will provide 740 residential units when completed, includes a recently completed commercial structure housing a food incubator and related businesses. This structure contains refrigerated storage and shelf capacity for surplus edible food to preserve it for donations to local partner organizations.

The Peninsula ext 2 — The Peninsula includes commercial structure and a food incubator.

Food waste will be collected and put to good use. “Food waste will be separated by the food businesses, and processed into fertilizer within a dry aerobic bio-digester,” says Miflin, who with partner WXY has created a related new initiative called PutWasteToWork. The bio-digester has a capacity of 0.55 tons of food waste a day, and processes it with microbes and heat to create a fertilizer. The bio-digester reduces weight by up to 90% and eliminates pests and odors.

Zero Waste — The Peninsula aims for zero waste.

Infrastructure will be built into residential areas to encourage collection of food waste for composting. Every unit will have undercounter bins for recycling and a caddy for food waste," “They will take these to the refuse rooms on each floor, which also host collections of small items like sharps and batteries,” says Claire Weisz, FAIA, founding principal of WXY.

According to the project team, consultants will help train staff, and provide software for tracking all waste types and measuring progress towards zero-waste operations. This is a radically new idea for an affordable community, according to a news release.

Owner and/or developer: Hudson Companies, Gilbane Development Co., and MHANY Management Inc. (part of the Mutual Housing Association of New York).
Design architect: WXY architecture + urban design and Body Lawson Associates Architects and Planners
Architect of record: WXY architecture + urban design and Body Lawson Associates Architects and Planners
MEP engineer: Skyline Engineering
Structural engineer: Gedeon GRC Consulting and Christie Engineering
General contractor/construction manager: Broadway Builders and Gilbane

When tapped to create a modern 280-unit residence in downtown Philadelphia, modular builder Volumetric Building Companies used the MagicPak All-in-One™ HVAC system to optimize square footage, expand rooftop amenities, improve the exterior aesthetics and simplify ongoing maintenance – all with 60 percent less onsite HVAC install time than a traditional split system.

Monaco Apartments in Midland, Texas, designed by HEDK Architects, Connect Structural, and Jordan & Skala Engineers, and built by BC Contracting. Photo: Brian Martin, Hommati

Giants 400 | Nov 18, 2021

2021 Multifamily Sector Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. multifamily building sector

Clark Group, Humphreys and Partners, and Kimley-Horn head BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest multifamily building sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.

EXACOR mgo underlayment panels on multifamily jobsite

How TDK Construction Saves Time and Money with EXACOR™ MgO Panels: Getting in on the Ground Level

Smart decisions made at the start of multifamily design-builds can improve efficiency on the job site, keeping projects on-time and on-budget, so you can make your properties profitable sooner. TDK Construction did just that on a recent luxury apartment project in Tennessee.

Tuck under parking at Fairfax Flats, Nashville, designed by The Bradley Projects.

Multifamily Housing | Nov 14, 2021

How to build better parking for multifamily housing projects

In designing and building multifamily projects, parking determines everything from site suitability to the building’s footprint to revenue optimization.