our services

affordable housing

We create desirable affordable housing that empowers communities toward economic stability, social equity, public health, resilience, and sustainable growth.

With New York City’s population of 8.5 million and less than 400,000 affordable housing units, preserving existing affordable housing and building new units are critical. Providing this foundation enables individuals and families to thrive and ensures communities remain vibrant and inclusive. Designing dynamic, comfortable, and enduring affordable housing is a core focus of our practice.

Through an integrated design approach tailored to client needs and neighborhood context, we create places where people want to live. Our buildings offer indoor-outdoor connections and spaces for both social interaction and private relaxation, allowing residents to enjoy and thrive.

deep energy Retrofits & Renovations

We bring energy-efficient solutions to existing multi-family, affordable housing, and art spaces across Manhattan and the Five Boroughs.

As a pre-qualified firm with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), we ensure our retrofits align with Passive House and Net-Zero energy standards, saving time and money while enhancing building aesthetics and resident comfort.

Our services include comprehensive gut renovations, thorough stakeholder meetings, and total energy assessments to inform our retrofit designs. We prioritize fresh air and heat recovery improvements and upgrades to building envelopes, ensuring alignment with Passive House standards.

Modular Construction & Embodied Carbon Reduction

We leverage our expertise in modular construction to build exceptional buildings efficiently and cost-effectively.

We are constantly exploring new ways of building to get more value out of each project. Modular construction offers a cost-effective solution to many construction challenges, significantly reducing build times while maintaining high energy Passive House performance standards.

Modular construction involves building three-dimensional boxes off-site, shipping them to the site, and stacking them together like Legos. These boxes arrive with their walls, floors, ceilings, finishes, and windows already installed, and are then stacked using cranes.

resident & community Engagement

We relentlessly advocate for our local community.

Our decades-spanning involvement in the Lower East Side—collaborating with low-income housing groups, “adverse possession” tenants, local arts and activist groups, and garden collectives—has equipped us with the skills to engage diverse stakeholders effectively.

Involving community residents and end-users in the design process ensures our projects are responsive to their needs and enriches the community.

Passive House and Net Zero

We have a longstanding commitment to creating deeply sustainable solutions for our planet.

Buildings in New York City account for nearly two-thirds of the city’s carbon emissions. As early adopters of Passive House and Net Zero in NYC, we integrate these principles from conceptual design through construction.

Using practical detailing, contractor engagement, and iterative energy modeling, we deliver high-performance buildings that maximize energy efficiency without increasing budgets.

cultural, commercial, & recreational spaces

We specialize in designing vibrant, active, and inspiring environments that meet the evolving needs of their communities.

Our extensive experience in community-oriented projects—ranging from arts centers and social centers to community gardens and recreational areas—has honed our ability to create spaces that resonate with diverse groups.

We engage with communities to understand their unique requirements, ensuring our designs are tailored to their specific needs, and focusing areas that will have the most significant positive impact while making the best use of available resources. Our designs promote strong links between interior and exterior spaces, enhancing community interaction and cohesion.

Additional Services

Building and Energy Consulting

  • Building and Energy Code Analysis: We ensure your project meets all relevant building and energy codes, which is crucial for legal compliance and safety.

  • Benchmarking: We assess the energy performance of your building compared to similar structures to identify areas for improvement.

  • LL 97 Compliance: We help buildings in NYC comply with Local Law 97, which mandates reductions in carbon emissions.

Pre-Development and Site Planning

  • Pre-Development Site Analysis: We evaluate potential sites for new developments, considering factors like environmental impact and feasibility.

  • Zoning Analysis: We analyze zoning regulations to determine what can be built on a property, ensuring your project aligns with local laws.

Design and Interiors

  • Interiors and FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment): We design interior spaces, selecting furniture, fixtures, and equipment to create functional and aesthetic environments.

  • Site and Master Planning: We develop comprehensive plans for large projects, guiding the layout and organization of buildings and spaces.

  • Landscape Design: We design outdoor spaces that complement the built environment.

In-House Energy Modeling:

  • Wufi-Passive: We use advanced modeling tools to simulate and optimize the energy performance of buildings.

  • Therm: This tool helps us analyze and minimize heat loss through building components.

  • EC3 (Embodied Carbon in Construction Calculator): We assess and reduce the carbon footprint of building materials and processes.

 

Have a question about the services we offer? Contact us.