Jury comments: Located on a former parking lot in a dense urban neighborhood, this brownfield development is a housing community for low-income and formerly homeless individuals. Each unit contains oversized windows, providing views to the street and outdoor environment. Separate dwellings are linked by day-lit corridors, creating common spaces that foster social interactions. An inner courtyard provides protected green space with room for urban agriculture. The six-story building respects the surrounding neighborhood with its restrained planning, height, and massing. The brick facade is very interesting, with depth and unexpected articulation that invites light and shadow to play across its surface. The designers did much to promote a healthy indoor environment, energy efficiency, and environmental responsibility. The green roof is fantastic. We were impressed by the care taken to disguise the air-conditioning units.
Client: Common Ground Communities
Contractor: Mountco Construction and Development
Consultants: Murray Engineering; Goldman Copeland Associates; SESI Consulting Engineers; Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers; Terrain NYC; YRG Sustainability Consultants; Steven Winter Associates; Philip Angel Expediting
