425 Grand Concourse | 2016-2022

Location: Bronx, New York, USA
Architects: Dattner Architects
Clients: Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corp.
Photographers: Albert Vecerka / ESTO

425 Grand Concourse is the largest Passive House (PHIUS-certified) project in North America to date. This new mixed-use and mixed-income development provides the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx with 277 affordable housing apartments, including 45 studio units, 92 one-bedroom units, 94 two-bedroom units, and 46 three-bedroom units – meeting the needs of both individuals and growing families.

The project also includes an educational student services center, health clinic, supermarket, cultural space, and other community amenities. The design of 425 Grand Concourse honors the history of the site, which sits on land formerly occupied by Public School 31, a Bronx institution originally built in 1899. The former property fell into disrepair and remained abandoned for many years. In tribute to the site’s rich history, the PS 31 sign and other decorative façade elements were salvaged and are on display in the lobby of 425 Grand Concourse.

The development is anchored by and creates space for City University of New York’s Hostos Community College Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) program, which helps students earn an associate degree as quickly as possible and provides resources like tuition gap and textbook assistance, academic advisors, and more. Designed to Passive House standards, the 26-story building will consume up to 70% less energy than a conventional housing project.

The development implements high efficiency building systems with an air-tight building envelope, energy recovery ventilation, and sustainable features to significantly reduce heat loss and gain. The project will surpass the Enterprise Green Communities Criteria and the design incorporates NYC Active Design Guidelines to encourage opportunities for physical activity.

This benchmark sustainable project provides a model for healthy living environments in a district with one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country. Each apartment’s living rooms and bedrooms directly receive filtered, ventilated air, increasing interior comfort and air quality. The project’s expansive windows provide abundant amounts of daylight into the apartments while balancing the window to wall ratio that is critical to achieving Passive House performance levels.