Project Subtitle:
Project Description:
Residing in Brooklyn’s decaying shipyard district, this modest renovation is to be the first mixed-use building in NYC to meet the most rigorous low-energy construction certification in the world – the Passive House Certification from the PHI in Darmstadt, Germany. Working within the significant constraints of re-using an existing NYC building, when complete it will use radically less energy – 90% less – than a new building built to code. This is accomplished through intensive air-sealing, with fresh air provided by a dedicated heat-exchanging ventilator, uninterrupted and thicker insulation than usual, and extremely high-performing windows and doors. In exchange, the building will be heated and cooled by a tiny air-to-air heat pump. The building’s energy use will be reduced enough to be met entirety by a rooftop solar array, making the project “net-zero” within a dense urban site. It will be quiet and comfortable, with fresh air year round, and will cost the owner almost nothing to use.
The building is being renovated to house a sound studio dedicated to electronic music and digital sound art, with a focus on vintage electronics from the 1980’s. As such, it is a place to make an essential human expression, electronically, in a new kind of harmony with nature. This music will literally be made from the sun. And it will have a place – it will be made and played and listened to here, in this building – whether or not the rest of the world has power.
Building Type Summary:
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Occupancy Type and Details:
Owner occupied dwelling and small ground-floor commercial space.
Multiple buildings?:
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Site description:
A tight urban lot with a pre-existing building built tight to the side lot lines.
Materials:
Use of salvaged materials.
Energy Highlights:
Highly insulated and air sealed Passive House EnerPHit envelope.
Subslab assembly:
Existing approx. 6" concrete slab, 1.5" type-9 EPS, poured concrete finish floor.
Slab edge assembly:
existing
Foundation wall assembly:
none
Above grade wall assembly:
acrylic stucco w/ fluid-applied integral air barrier, existing 8" CMU, 2 layers 2.75" salvaged polyisocyanurate insulation, metal furring, 5/8" GWB.
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Process:
typical design-bid-build.
Energy Modeling Software:
PHPP
Special architectural measures:
Passive House EnerPhit, including minimization of thermal bridging and very good air sealing.
Energy Strategies:
Highly insulated and air sealed Passive House EnerPHit envelope.
Energy Use and Production Documentation:
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Scope Description:
Gut renovation of entire building.
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Summary of enclosure strategy/description:
Interior rigid insulation at existing walls and first floor slab-on-grade. Exterior rigid insulation at roof. Combination of interior and exterior fluid-applied air barriers to existing masonry.
Roof Assembly:
existing horizontal wood joists with wood overframing and plywood decking. 11" salvaged polyisocyanurate insulation, cement board and fluid-applied roofing system.
Roof R-value:
Window Description:
Shuco aluminum Passive House exterior windows with triple glazing.
Door Description:
Shuco aluminum Passive House exterior windows with triple glazing or insulated opaque panel.
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Team Members:
Madsen Engineering: Structural
Marko Stamenovich: Acoustical