An exemplary model of affordable Passive House and community-based housing, Vital Brookdale brings 160 units of affordable housing and 25,000 square feet of health-focused community space to the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. Alongside deeply affordable apartments, Vital Brookdale provides resources that promote health and wellness, job training, outdoor green space, and opportunities for recreation, supporting residents and the surrounding community. Tenants have access to a 2nd floor terrace, and front and rear-courtyards, which includes landscaping, a dog run, play area as well as passive recreation and seating areas. Additional amenities include complimentary building-wide wireless-internet access, a multi-purpose community room, game room, library/co-working space, fitness room, laundry room, cold-storage locker and package rooms, and a bike storage room.
Community facility spaces on the ground floor include an outpatient medical office associated with the adjacent Brookdale Hospital, job training space, and a food training program that will be integrated with the outdoor gardening area on-site. Additionally, The New York Foundling – one of New York City’s oldest and largest child welfare agencies – has an office suite in the building in support of the supportive units, targeted to children aging out of foster care and people with developmental disabilities.
This Passive House project has a 100kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, green roof, high-performance mechanical systems, insulation and windows, LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and several other energy-efficient measures to ensure the comfort and affordability for residents as well as sustainability of the building. The design team also carefully selected interior materials while keeping in mind the ease of install, cost of material, maintenance, and impact on resident health. The end result is a project that is a model of affordable, community-based, sustainable multifamily housing in New York City.
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