We are excited to share that among projects submitted for recognition at PhiusCon—North America’s leading conference for zero energy design and construction, climate solutions, and building science expertise—two projects supported by the Bright Power team have won!
Vital Brooklyn received an award for “Best Overall Project” and was named Winner in the Low-Rise Multifamily category. Located on the former parking lot of Brookdale Hospital in Central Brooklyn, the project includes 160 affordable housing units and approximately 25,000-sf of health-focused community space.
The project met Passive House standards by utilizing a robust and continuously insulated envelope, triple glazed windows, ERVs, air source heat pumps for the apartment heating and cooling and condensing gas boilers for the domestic hot water system. The highly insulated envelope ensures the VRF heating and cooling systems provide maximum comfort as building air leakage has been nearly eliminated, combined with ERVs to provide large amounts of fresh air to the apartments and common areas, with minimal heating or cooling energy loss. The project also features vegetated courtyards accessible to residents, green roofs as well as a 100 kW solar photovoltaic (“PV”) system on the roof. The 100 kW solar system generates roughly 120,000 kWh/year lowering the site EUI from 19.8 kBtu/sq ft -yr to 16.8 kBtu/sq ft -yr. Alongside Bright Power, the Vital Brookdale project team is comprised of the owners and developers, MDG Design + Construction, Smith & Henzy Advisory Group, and The New York Foundling, along with Monadnock Construction, Dattner Architects and Skyline Engineering, DeNardis Engineering, and Starr Whitehouse.
Winning “Best Project by a Young Professional” and named winner in both the High-Rise Multifamily and Commercial/Institutional categories was Chestnut Commons. In collaboration with Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, Mutual Housing Association of New York, and Urban Builders Collaborative along with Dattner Architects, Bright Power provided Passive House consulting and verification services, secured the building’s Enterprise Green Communities certification, and ensured building compliance through commissioning services. In addition, the Bright Power team designed and installed a 90 kW solar PV system and a 35 kW cogeneration system, and provided technical support for this project’s participation in NYSERDA’s New Construction Program. Special congratulations to Emily Durso on our team for her work on this project. Learn more about Emily and her contributions to Bright Power by reading her Employee Spotlight.
It is an honor to have projects recognized at this prestigious industry event. Congratulations to the Vital Brooklyn and Chestnut Commons teams, and to all of the Phius Projects Design award winners!