In Brooklyn, N.Y., the recently opened Atrium at Sumner offers 132,418 sf of affordable housing for seniors.
The $132 million project includes 190 apartments—132 of them available to senior households earning below or at 50% of the area median income and 57 units available to formerly homeless seniors. Situated on underutilized land at New York City Housing Authority’s Sumner Houses, the 11-story structure includes a ground-level, 8,309-sf community facility and a year-round, 2,760-sf interior community garden.
Studio Libeskind’s design features bold diagonal lines that wrap the building and create a folding form—which the firm describes as “a dynamic yet rational geometric form interrupted by a pattern of open and solid elements.”
“Growing up in social housing in the Bronx gave me a unique perspective on the importance of community and high-quality, affordable housing,” Daniel Libeskind, principal design architect, Studio Libeskind, said in a statement. “I hope this project serves as a powerful example of how good design can positively impact society, especially for those in need.”
The studio and one-bedroom units all have large windows and a variety of open layouts. Amenities include a 24-hour attended lobby, free broadband in common areas and apartments, onsite building manager, an apartment designated for a live-in superintendent, laundry on the second and ninth floors, a multipurpose community room, a library/computer room, bicycle storage room, exercise room, handrails in common areas, and emergency pull cords and built-in air conditioners in each apartment.
The Atrium at Sumner incorporates passive house design principles and uses 60% to 70% less energy than the average NYC apartment building. The sustainable design features high-performance envelope materials and systems and energy-efficient HVAC and ERV systems. The appliances and HVAC systems are all-electric.
Design began in 2017, construction in 2021. Residents started moving into the building in April 2024.
In a recent survey, builders and planners cited difficulty in generating community support as a key challenge to getting more affordable housing projects built. The survey by coUrbanize found that 94% of respondents tried to gain community input and support through public meetings, but many were frustrated by low attendance. Few respondents thought the process was productive.
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