Construction Update: Perch Harlem, NYC’s First Market-Rate Passive House, Shows Some Skin
Work on the city’s first market-rate Passive House, Perch Harlem, is moving apace, and just in time for Earth Day, a bit of construction netting was taken down, giving passersby a glimpse of its super-insulated white exterior (good for heat deflection) and seamless rectangular windows. The seven-story structure rises midblock at 542 West 153rd Street and recently topped out in January. When finished later this year, its 34 units will boast superior workmanship, low energy bills and exceptional indoor air quality. The project’s developers, the Synapse Development Group with Taurus Investment Holdings, purchased the 10,000-square-foot former parking lot back in 2013 and have been growing their Perch brand of buildings that strive to provide environmentally low-impact living and community-oriented design.
The globally leading energy efficiency standard started in Germany by Dr. Wolfgang Feist, results in a dramatic reduction in energy used for heating and cooling when compared to more conventional standards. Passivhaus‘s “fabric-first approach” has a much more efficient use of insulation than what is required by building regulations and essentially creates an airtight envelope around the structure to prevent heat loss and gain. Also, the approach places a greater dependency on natural ventilation, uses well-placed and high-quality windows that optimize solar gain, and avoids thermal bridging to help provide a greater degree of stable thermal comfort for occupants, irrespective of the weather outside.
Perch Harlem overlooks the lush grounds of Trinity Cemetery between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue and is being designed by Passive House expert Chris Benedict (CBRA). As 6sqft mentioned last year, the apartments will be provided with triple-pane windows, an energy recovery ventilation system, and high-rated insulation.
Typically, buildings account for 39 percent of U.S. carbon emissions, but Perch buildings aim to reduce their own carbon footprints by 90 percent and use 80 percent less energy. The brand also strives for all units to be sound and smell resistant, have comfortable temperatures and levels of humidity, and feature built-in technology to allow inhabitants to effortlessly connect and control devices. A second Perch building is planned in Williamsburg at 646 Lorimer Street.
Find future listings for Perch Harlem at CityRealty.
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