As New York City’s population continues to grow and its real estate costs increase exponentially, there is an increasing number of lower and middle class New Yorkers who are unable to afford housing and are forced to move elsewhere. In addition, the existing public housing complexes in NYC are outdated, inefficient in terms of its energy performance, and uncomfortable with regard to space size and interior partition layouts.

The NYC Net Zero Public Housing proposes a building that is constructed with durable and resilient materials, a high efficiency building envelope and building systems, as well as a design that incorporates passive heating and cooling to further reduce energy consumption. This proposed public housing project will provide a home designed for longevity and aging in place, minimal heating, cooling, and electric bills, and a contemporary exterior and interior aesthetic.