A poorly modernized 1903 row house was transformed into the vibrant Climate Change Row House (CCRH) after a retrofit designed to meet EnerPHit standards. As the site is within the East River floodplain, elevating the building by 3 feet to reduce flooding risks complicated the design challenges inherent in meeting the EnerPHit requirements, starting with having to seal off the enlarged crawlspace from the building envelope.
What draws the eye instantaneously to this row house is the renovated façade, which is made from ceramic masonry and recycled glazes. Raising the building made window and door alignment to blend in with the neighbors’ features impossible; the new façade adds playfulness to this non-alignment.
This façade is part of a newly constructed wall. The original brick wall was demolished and replaced with structural steel with 3 inches of extruded polystyrene exterior insulation, 6 inches of Rockwool batting within the studs, and 1 inch of polyisocyanurate on the interior, resulting in a 16-inch thick wall. The front walls have an R-value of 39, as do the back walls. Thanks to 4 inches of polyisocyanurate and 12 inches of stone wool, the roof assembly has an R-value of 47. A heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) brings in a constant supply of fresh air.
There are other sustainability features throughout the building, noticeably the Maple flooring that came from a sustainably managed forest in New York State. A green roof, covering part of the building’s top surface, helps to absorb stormwater and decrease runoff. A solar thermal panel and a small greenhouse share the rest of the rooftop.
| Project Team | |
|---|---|
| Architect | Thomas Paino, R.A. http://climatechangerowhouse.com/ |
| Passive House consultant and HVAC designer | Jordon Goldman, ZeroEnergy Design |
| Contractor | Mike Miceli, All Dimension |
Original 1902 and 1903 articles:
See the original 1938 building:
