Dattner Architects is a women-owned design firm. This is a milestone for our practice, which was founded 60 years ago. Our long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion has organically fostered women to thrive and achieve at the highest level of leadership. Today the firm is led by 10 partners, half of whom are women; and the women are the majority owners. We are a firm that continues to evolve and advance.
Our core mission is unwavering, and it unites our work and our practice. We proudly take on the planning and design of the region’s most essential projects, creating architecture that enriches the urban experience, transforms environments, and strengthens communities.
Today Dattner Architects is over 100 people, 59% of whom are women, 41% BIPOC, and 17% LGBTQ+ all working together from one office in New York City. A steadfast dedication to our mission, a strong and varied portfolio of that spans sectors, and a thoughtful leadership transition plan allows our 60-year-old practice to continue to remain vital and vibrant—reflecting the diversity and relevancy of our practice.
"Driven to work at the urban scale, I initially sought out Dattner Architects because the firm had designed many of the civic spaces that were formative in my life," notes Gia Maneiro, Principal and Corporate President. "This passion fueled my career here—from junior designer to Principal—supported by the confidence, camaraderie and mentorship that defines the culture of the office. Raising my daughter solidified my commitment to leadership in the future of sustainable public architecture, and I could not be more proud to share in a majority women owned partnership that embodies these values."
Dattner Architects is certified as a WBE with New York City, New York State, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York City School Construction Authority, and the City of Philadelphia.
Dattner Architects is proud to recognize the exceptional contributions of six distinguished professionals with promotions to new levels of leadership.
In recognition of their outstanding leadership and deep-seated passion for enriching urban environments with projects that respond to the needs of our time, Harriet Andronikides has been promoted to Associate. Heather McKinstry and Rem Bruhn are now Senior Associates. Patrick McAffrey, Shefali Sanghvi and Philippe Martelly have been elevated to Associate Principal. These advancements reflect the dedication, commitment to sustainable and innovative civic architecture, and the high level of professionalism these architects bring to our firm.
“Each of these professionals has excelled in remarkable and individual ways. They all successfully lead complex projects with ease and joy, while providing opportunities for others to shine. We are pleased to be able to recognize their achievements and their commitment with these promotions, and we are excited about their evolved role in the leadership of our firm.”—Kirsten Sibilia, Managing Principal.
Harriet Andronikides, AIA, Associate has worked on a variety of project types, including parks, multi-family residential, and performing arts venues. She strives for clear and meaningful communication through all phases of a project, and particularly enjoys the Construction Administration phase where she can see the building come to life. As a New Yorker, Harriet has an endless fascination for the built environment and the inner workings of the city.
“When I joined Dattner Architects, I saw that I had the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on my home city and community. I knew that this firm was a special place where I could achieve that.”—Harriet
Heather McKinstry, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC, Studio Director, Senior Associate believes that architecture’s most important role is to create inclusive, healthy, and sustainable environments for our communities, helping to build a more equitable world. After completing her thesis on disaster relief housing, her commitment to environmentalism and community focused urbanism led her to work creating spaces for all New Yorkers while minimizing the environmental impact of new buildings.
“I'm so proud of how this office has evolved since I started. I was hired to work on the design of 425 Grand Concourse, our first Passive House project, and now we have become passive house experts with many of our housing projects in design aiming for that standard. I'm also thrilled by the progress the office has made to become a women owned business.”—Heather
Rem Bruhn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate joined Dattner Architects in 2015, eager to work in a mission-driven firm, designing projects positively influence people’s daily lives. He enjoys working with diverse stakeholder groups, and he takes pride in developing a concept that is carefully considered, from the macroscopic down to the smallest details. With each project he seeks to contribute to the sustainable evolution of our cities.
“When I joined Dattner Architects, I was drawn in by the firm’s mission, and the work we do to make New York City a better place to live for everyone, from affordable housing, to infrastructure, to schools and libraries, and so much more—and I was proud to go home and tell people where I worked and the type of work we did. Nine years later, this is as true as ever: as we grow and evolve, I’m still very proud of our work, and grateful for the brilliant and dedicated people that I work with.”—Rem
Patrick McAffrey, AIA, Studio Director, Associate Principal joined the firm as an emerging architect today leads our largest studio. He’s continued to grow with each challenge and excels at every opportunity. Formally trained in both architecture and product design, Patrick’s passion for intelligent urbanism has led him to focus his work on infrastructure and transportation projects, which he believes have profound impact on the building fabric and urban lifestyles they support.
“I am proud of the work we do as a firm, continuing to contribute to the built fabric of New York in a meaningful and civic way. Specifically, in our transportation and infrastructure studio, I have always found it fulfilling to be able to observe how appreciated and used our work is in the public realm. Looking back on my time here, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to work with so many talented individuals and the thoughtful mentorship provided by this firm. I am humbled and excited to be a part of this leadership group as we enter a new chapter as a women-owned business.”—Patrick
Shefali Sanghvi, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Amb., ENV SP, Director of Sustainability, Associate Principal has over 15 years of experience working in sustainable projects, with an emphasis on resiliency, occupant health and comfort, and energy efficiency. An expert on urban Passive House projects, she is dedicated to designing buildings that are socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. As the firm’s Director of Sustainability, Shefali serves as a thought leader across Dattner Architects’ studios, and beyond, championing sustainability as integral to architecture. She is a person who identifies opportunities to do things better—and puts in the work to develop a system to make it happen. Like each of the folks being promoted, Shefali is always looking out for the firm.
“Dattner Architects’ Sustainable Practice Group gave me a platform to research issues that I felt really passionate about and talk about them with people who felt the same drive to change the way we design our communities. The reality is that every time we do what we do, we have one chance to do it right, to lessen its impact on the planet. Every time we build a project, it is important that we build the most sustainable version of our project that we can. Dattner Architects provides the opportunity for us to do that, together.”—Shefali
With in-depth expertise managing large, multifaceted projects, Philippe Martelly, AIA, CPHC, Studio Director, Associate Principal is deeply invested in understanding the human experience and social impact of healthy, sustainable, and well-conceived affordable housing. Philippe has not only excelled as a project manager, studio director, mentor and coach but also used his skills for business development—cultivating new and existing clients to bring in new projects. He represents the firm on the board of the prestigious CHPC (Citizens Housing & Planning Council).
“I’ve always believed that Civic Architecture is about giving back, and practicing Architecture in service to society is a beautiful endeavor. It is a complex and difficult job, and we at Dattner Architects are among the privileged few in this society who can actually do it so well. The populations that our projects continue to serve are counting on all of us to get it right. They deserve our very best. They deserve that bright spark of ours that we let shine here each and every day. And our tremendous collective expertise and profound social consciousness places us in a position to give them our best. Our Firm is a very special place, and I am very proud of what we’re doing here. We operate successfully in one of the greatest Cities in the World, and the civic impact of our work extends beyond its borders, across generations, and beyond our own personal timelines.”—Philippe
We are honored to announce that The Architect’s Newspaper has selected Dattner Architects for the 2024 Best of Practice Award (XL Firm – Northeast). AN's Best of Practice program seeks to define an expansive meaning of excellence that not only considers the firm’s individual projects, values and culture but also inclusivity, social impact, sustainability, regional relevance, and technological innovation. This recognition highlights our commitment to addressing the complex challenges faced by the architecture industry today and acknowledges the collective efforts of our team.
As a mission-driven, women-owned design firm, we design impactful architecture that responds to the issues of our time. We have proudly taken on the planning and design of the region’s most essential projects, creating architecture that enriches the urban experience, transforms environments, and strengthens communities. Our approach involves integrating sustainable practices and prioritizing projects that serve the broader community, reflecting our dedication to inclusivity and social responsibility.
Dattner Architects has long fostered equity and inclusion, and we have championed employee professional growth and recognition. Our commitment to diversity includes a team of over 100 people, 59% women, 41% BIPOC, and 17% LGBTQ+.
Our innovative buildings have enriched NYC's urban fabric, positively impacting countless New Yorkers. We are humbled to see the warmth, appreciation, and life brought to our projects by those who inhabit, recreate, learn, and work in these buildings.
[caption id="attachment_21452" align="alignleft" width="2000"] Architectural League First Friday at Dattner Architects 2024[/caption]
View the full list of winners:
https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/announcing-the-winners-of-ans-2024-best-of-practice-awards/
Wei Wang has been invited as a panelist for an upcoming AIA Brooklyn Panel on Sustainable and Circular Construction. A part of the organization's "Towards a Sustainable Architecture" series, the
discussion will explore approaches to designing buildings and urban environments in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes the reuse of materials. The panelists will discuss sustainable approaches to manufacturing and sourcing of materials, cleaner construction methods, clean energy solutions, and the deconstructability of buildings with an eye toward recycling of building materials.
Wei will be joined by two other panelists: Sylvie Binder, Policy Advisor at the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and Felix Heisel, Director of the Circular Construction Lab at Cornell.
Circularity is a topic that Wei is actively engaged with as a practitioner and researcher. She recently participated in a Metropolis Magazine hackathon on a similar topic, the result of which was published last month: 7 Proposals for a Circular Built Environment.
Tickets are available, preregistration is required.
Wei Wang has been invited as a panelist for an upcoming AIA Brooklyn Panel on Sustainable and Circular Construction. A part of the organization's "Towards a Sustainable Architecture" series, the
discussion will explore approaches to designing buildings and urban environments in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes the reuse of materials. The panelists will discuss sustainable approaches to manufacturing and sourcing of materials, cleaner construction methods, clean energy solutions, and the deconstructability of buildings with an eye toward recycling of building materials.
Wei will be joined by two other panelists: Sylvie Binder, Policy Advisor at the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and Felix Heisel, Director of the Circular Construction Lab at Cornell.
Circularity is a topic that Wei is actively engaged with as a practitioner and researcher. She recently participated in a Metropolis Magazine hackathon on a similar topic, the result of which was published last month: 7 Proposals for a Circular Built Environment.
Tickets are available, preregistration is required.
We congratulate Jeffrey (Jeff) Dugan FAIA on his retirement!
After more than 25 years with Dattner Architects, Jeff leaves us with a legacy of community infrastructure projects that have shaped the city. His commitment to elevating the civic realm, advancing community, and creating connections among all elements of urban life found its primary expression in the planning and design of public transportation facilities, including two of the city’s busiest: the 59 St-Columbus Circle Station and the Myrtle-Wyckoff Station. He brought the same attention to the design of public schools such as the New Settlement Community Campus and the Charles F. Murphy Early Childhood Development Center.
Other notable projects include the Bishop Rene Valero Senior Residence, the NYPD 116th Precinct, and the Newark Airport Terminal B Redevelopment. Jeff’s projects have received numerous awards from AIA Chapters and Components, SARA state and national, and the ACEC, recognizing excellence in precedent-setting architectural design and engineering. Each project demonstrates his keen understanding of how people move through space, how architecture affects mood and behavior, and how the relationship between a project and its environment can create, enhance, or spark the development of community.
In his role as co-chair of AIANY’s Transportation + Infrastructure Committee (2012–2022), he worked tirelessly to create opportunities for his colleagues and an international cohort of professionals in allied disciplines to share knowledge and explore case studies in New York City and abroad. Under his leadership, the Committee grew in size and influence, as his fellow architects came to share his conviction that the civic realm, community infrastructure, and, in particular, mass transit are worthy of their design talents.
In a management role and as Treasurer at Dattner Architects, Jeff collaborated with the Partnership to successfully grow the firm, seeing it triple in size over the past 25 years. He was a strong advocate for the transition of leadership to the next generation, including the firm’s evolution to a majority women-owned business.
Jeff has shared his insatiable curiosity, deep respect for community, and commitment to a collaborative process with all of us. His legacy will continue through the firm, its projects, and the generations he mentored. We wish him all the best in his retirement, which begins on January 1st.
We congratulate Jeffrey (Jeff) Dugan FAIA on his retirement!
After more than 25 years with Dattner Architects, Jeff leaves us with a legacy of community infrastructure projects that have shaped the city. His commitment to elevating the civic realm, advancing community, and creating connections among all elements of urban life found its primary expression in the planning and design of public transportation facilities, including two of the city’s busiest: the 59 St-Columbus Circle Station and the Myrtle-Wyckoff Station. He brought the same attention to the design of public schools such as the New Settlement Community Campus and the Charles F. Murphy Early Childhood Development Center.
Other notable projects include the Bishop Rene Valero Senior Residence, the NYPD 116th Precinct, and the Newark Airport Terminal B Redevelopment. Jeff’s projects have received numerous awards from AIA Chapters and Components, SARA state and national, and the ACEC, recognizing excellence in precedent-setting architectural design and engineering. Each project demonstrates his keen understanding of how people move through space, how architecture affects mood and behavior, and how the relationship between a project and its environment can create, enhance, or spark the development of community.
In his role as co-chair of AIANY’s Transportation + Infrastructure Committee (2012–2022), he worked tirelessly to create opportunities for his colleagues and an international cohort of professionals in allied disciplines to share knowledge and explore case studies in New York City and abroad. Under his leadership, the Committee grew in size and influence, as his fellow architects came to share his conviction that the civic realm, community infrastructure, and, in particular, mass transit are worthy of their design talents.
In a management role and as Treasurer at Dattner Architects, Jeff collaborated with the Partnership to successfully grow the firm, seeing it triple in size over the past 25 years. He was a strong advocate for the transition of leadership to the next generation, including the firm’s evolution to a majority women-owned business.
Jeff has shared his insatiable curiosity, deep respect for community, and commitment to a collaborative process with all of us. His legacy will continue through the firm, its projects, and the generations he mentored. We wish him all the best in his retirement, which begins on January 1st.
Dattner Architects is thrilled to be the Architect for the team selected to design and build the new AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport. This prestigious project, awarded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey last week, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of one of the nation's busiest airports. The new AirTrain system will replace the existing, outdated system with a state-of-the-art, 2.5-mile elevated rail structure and three new stations. This project is a critical component of the Port Authority's vision to transform Newark Liberty International Airport into a world-class transportation hub. Working within the Tutor Perini/O&G Design/Build team and with Lead Engineer Parsons Corporation, Dattner Architects is excited to continue the collaboration that led to the winning proposal.
Dattner Architects' involvement in this project underscores our leadership in the field of transportation architecture and our commitment to creating innovative, resilient, and sustainable public infrastructure solutions.
Read more about this $1.184 Billion Design-Build project:
https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/press-room/press-release-archives/2022-press-releases1/port-authority-signs–1-24-billion-contract-to-design-and-build-.html
Dattner Architects is thrilled to be the Architect for the team selected to design and build the new AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport. This prestigious project, awarded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey last week, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of one of the nation's busiest airports. The new AirTrain system will replace the existing, outdated system with a state-of-the-art, 2.5-mile elevated rail structure and three new stations. This project is a critical component of the Port Authority's vision to transform Newark Liberty International Airport into a world-class transportation hub. Working within the Tutor Perini/O&G Design/Build team and with Lead Engineer Parsons Corporation, Dattner Architects is excited to continue the collaboration that led to the winning proposal.
Dattner Architects' involvement in this project underscores our leadership in the field of transportation architecture and our commitment to creating innovative, resilient, and sustainable public infrastructure solutions.
Read more about this $1.184 Billion Design-Build project:
https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/press-room/press-release-archives/2022-press-releases1/port-authority-signs–1-24-billion-contract-to-design-and-build-.html
Dattner Architects Principal John Woelfling and Director of Sustainability Shefali Sanghvi presented "One Architecture Firm's Journey to Passive House Expertise" at this year's Greenbuild Conference in Philadelphia.
In 2016, Dattner Architects set out to explore the feasibility of integrating Passive House design with multi-family affordable housing. Over the next few years, the firm successfully designed and built four Phius-certified Passive House buildings, delivering nearly 1,000 affordable apartments. This work demonstrated that sustainability, good design, and affordability could coexist in multi-family housing.
Their presentation highlighted how these achievements have shaped sustainable practices in Dattner's Housing studio and offered insights that can be applied by other practitioners and in future Dattner projects.
Greenbuild Conference
Lecture: One Architecture Firm’s Journey to Passive House Expertise
Date: November 14, 2024
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 pm (EST)
Dattner Architects-designed 425 Grand Concourse & the Five Principles of Passive House.
Dattner Architects Principal John Woelfling and Director of Sustainability Shefali Sanghvi presented "One Architecture Firm's Journey to Passive House Expertise" at this year's Greenbuild Conference in Philadelphia.
In 2016, Dattner Architects set out to explore the feasibility of integrating Passive House design with multi-family affordable housing. Over the next few years, the firm successfully designed and built four Phius-certified Passive House buildings, delivering nearly 1,000 affordable apartments. This work demonstrated that sustainability, good design, and affordability could coexist in multi-family housing.
Their presentation highlighted how these achievements have shaped sustainable practices in Dattner's Housing studio and offered insights that can be applied by other practitioners and in future Dattner projects.
Greenbuild Conference
Lecture: One Architecture Firm’s Journey to Passive House Expertise
Date: November 14, 2024
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 pm (EST)
Dattner Architects-designed 425 Grand Concourse & the Five Principles of Passive House.
425 Grand Concourse, a 26-story, mixed-use, mixed-income building is a recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s 2024 Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing.
Located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, 425 Grand Concourse was the largest PHIUS Passive House-certified multifamily development in North America at certification. This project addresses New York City’s critical need for affordable housing within a high-quality development that provides community resources and promotes street activity.
The tower provides 277 affordable housing units, and the two-story base includes a medical facility, supermarket, community spaces, and a community college student services center—each also designed by Dattner Architects.
Developed by Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corporation, this benchmark sustainable project consumes 70% less energy than a conventional housing project. It provides a model for healthy living environments in a district with one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country. Active ventilation brings filtered fresh air to all apartment bedrooms and living rooms, keeping a constant flow of clean air without pollutants, pollen, or respiratory virus particles, increasing interior comfort and air quality. Continuous insulation at the façade, lack of thermal breaks, and high-quality windows mean the building stays temperate.
The building also offers residents a wide variety of amenities including a recreation room, two landscaped roof terraces, a lounge space and fitness room, laundry rooms, and bike storage.
View the full list of winners here.
425 Grand Concourse, a 26-story, mixed-use, mixed-income building is a recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s 2024 Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing.
Located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, 425 Grand Concourse was the largest PHIUS Passive House-certified multifamily development in North America at certification. This project addresses New York City’s critical need for affordable housing within a high-quality development that provides community resources and promotes street activity.
The tower provides 277 affordable housing units, and the two-story base includes a medical facility, supermarket, community spaces, and a community college student services center—each also designed by Dattner Architects.
Developed by Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corporation, this benchmark sustainable project consumes 70% less energy than a conventional housing project. It provides a model for healthy living environments in a district with one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country. Active ventilation brings filtered fresh air to all apartment bedrooms and living rooms, keeping a constant flow of clean air without pollutants, pollen, or respiratory virus particles, increasing interior comfort and air quality. Continuous insulation at the façade, lack of thermal breaks, and high-quality windows mean the building stays temperate.
The building also offers residents a wide variety of amenities including a recreation room, two landscaped roof terraces, a lounge space and fitness room, laundry rooms, and bike storage.
View the full list of winners here.
Dattner Architects’ Principal Ruth Ro will be presenting at the AIA Tri-State Fusion Conference 2024. She will be leading a session titled “Trail Blazing: Becoming a Women-Owned Practice” alongside Patricia Harris, legal counsel from Zetlin & De Chiara LLP on November 20th.
This presentation will explore Dattner Architects’ transformative journey to becoming a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) after six decades of practice. The discussion will delve into the firm’s history, practice, and culture which have organically fostered women to achieve the highest level of leadership. Ruth will also talk about the firm’s long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion of historically underrepresented designers including LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, and working parents, focusing on how these strategies have shaped our culture and operations.
Patricia will address the legal and structural adjustments required for WBE certification, shedding light on potential challenges and how to set a firm up for success in this transition.
Register to gain insights into evolving landscape for women in architecture, and discover the steps to become a WBE, including governance, certification, and leadership transition strategies. We hope to inspire others to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
Dattner Architects’ Principal Ruth Ro will be presenting at the AIA Tri-State Fusion Conference 2024. She will be leading a session titled “Trail Blazing: Becoming a Women-Owned Practice” alongside Patricia Harris, legal counsel from Zetlin & De Chiara LLP on November 20th.
This presentation will explore Dattner Architects’ transformative journey to becoming a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) after six decades of practice. The discussion will delve into the firm’s history, practice, and culture which have organically fostered women to achieve the highest level of leadership. Ruth will also talk about the firm’s long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion of historically underrepresented designers including LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, and working parents, focusing on how these strategies have shaped our culture and operations.
Patricia will address the legal and structural adjustments required for WBE certification, shedding light on potential challenges and how to set a firm up for success in this transition.
Register to gain insights into evolving landscape for women in architecture, and discover the steps to become a WBE, including governance, certification, and leadership transition strategies. We hope to inspire others to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
Currently on view at the Center for Architecture in Manhattan, Built by New York celebrates the design work of AIA New York, AIA Brooklyn, AIA Bronx, AIA Staten Island, and AIA Queens members. The show spans three levels and represents the vibrancy of the New York City design community’s work.
Dattner Architects is proud to have four award-winning projects included in the show: Alafia, a large master plan and phased development on East New York pioneering Heath & Wellness in Affordable Housing; Stanley Manne Institute, a new privately-funded research grade lab building for public high school students; Manhattan Districts 1/2/5 Garage and Spring Street Salt Shed, recognized as the quintessential representation of design excellence in public architecture this project is now an archi-tourism destination, the 34th St-Hudson Yards Subway Station which catalyzed the development of a new neighborhood, and 425 Grand Concourse, an innovative high-rise mixed use Passive House building featured as a 2024 Archtober Building of the Day.
The show runs through April 5, 2025 and is open to the public.
Currently on view at the Center for Architecture in Manhattan, Built by New York celebrates the design work of AIA New York, AIA Brooklyn, AIA Bronx, AIA Staten Island, and AIA Queens members. The show spans three levels and represents the vibrancy of the New York City design community’s work.
Dattner Architects is proud to have four award-winning projects included in the show: Alafia, a large master plan and phased development on East New York pioneering Heath & Wellness in Affordable Housing; Stanley Manne Institute, a new privately-funded research grade lab building for public high school students; Manhattan Districts 1/2/5 Garage and Spring Street Salt Shed, recognized as the quintessential representation of design excellence in public architecture this project is now an archi-tourism destination, the 34th St-Hudson Yards Subway Station which catalyzed the development of a new neighborhood, and 425 Grand Concourse, an innovative high-rise mixed use Passive House building featured as a 2024 Archtober Building of the Day.
The show runs through April 5, 2025 and is open to the public.
In the second installment of our Sustainability in Architecture series, "Sustainability in Architecture: Alafia," we sat down with the project team of the Alafia Masterplan to reflect on how this robust, sustainable community came to fruition.
Kicking off the video, we spoke with Principal-in-Charge Daniel Heuberger to reflect on the journey behind the Alafia Master Plan and how this transformative, sustainable community took shape. Daniel shared valuable insights into the design of the master plan and the collaborative efforts that brought together public, private, and nonprofit partners.
Part two features Project Manager Jen Switala discussing the sustainable elements integrated into the design of Phase 1 and lessons learned through the design of buildings C1/C2, C3, and the Maintenance Hub facility.
In the final segment, we went on site with Senior Architect Deniz Secilmis, who guided us through the process of building one of North America's largest PHI-certified Passive House projects. Deniz shared the unique challenges of constructing a project of this scale and explored how these experiences can inform future Passive House developments.
Alafia is a new wellness-oriented resilient development designed to address a historically underserved area's chronic social, economic, and health disparities. As part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn initiative, Dattner Architects designed a master plan that outlines the phased redevelopment of a 25+acre decommissioned public site and is now designing the first buildings.
Watch the full video here.
In the second installment of our Sustainability in Architecture series, "Sustainability in Architecture: Alafia," we sat down with the project team of the Alafia Masterplan to reflect on how this robust, sustainable community came to fruition.
Kicking off the video, we spoke with Principal-in-Charge Daniel Heuberger to reflect on the journey behind the Alafia Master Plan and how this transformative, sustainable community took shape. Daniel shared valuable insights into the design of the master plan and the collaborative efforts that brought together public, private, and nonprofit partners.
Part two features Project Manager Jen Switala discussing the sustainable elements integrated into the design of Phase 1 and lessons learned through the design of buildings C1/C2, C3, and the Maintenance Hub facility.
In the final segment, we went on site with Senior Architect Deniz Secilmis, who guided us through the process of building one of North America's largest PHI-certified Passive House projects. Deniz shared the unique challenges of constructing a project of this scale and explored how these experiences can inform future Passive House developments.
Alafia is a new wellness-oriented resilient development designed to address a historically underserved area's chronic social, economic, and health disparities. As part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn initiative, Dattner Architects designed a master plan that outlines the phased redevelopment of a 25+acre decommissioned public site and is now designing the first buildings.
Watch the full video here.
Dattner Architect's Managing Principal Kirsten Sibilia, Principal Ruth Ro, and Business Development Manager Jessica Soares presented at the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in Chicago from October 8-10!
They led a presentation and panel discussion titled “How Dattner Architects Transitioned to a Certified Women-Owned Business”, along with our legal counsel Patricia Harris of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP.
The session provided an in-depth look at our firm’s journey to WBE certification and the steps we’ve taken to foster an equitable, inclusive workplace. It also sparked thoughtful discussions on the importance of building the pipeline for women to rise to leadership roles.
We were excited to share our experiences and inspire other firms to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values.
Dattner Architect's Managing Principal Kirsten Sibilia, Principal Ruth Ro, and Business Development Manager Jessica Soares presented at the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in Chicago from October 8-10!
They led a presentation and panel discussion titled “How Dattner Architects Transitioned to a Certified Women-Owned Business”, along with our legal counsel Patricia Harris of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP.
The session provided an in-depth look at our firm’s journey to WBE certification and the steps we’ve taken to foster an equitable, inclusive workplace. It also sparked thoughtful discussions on the importance of building the pipeline for women to rise to leadership roles.
We were excited to share our experiences and inspire other firms to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values.
Dattner Architects’ Associate Principal Rachel Ehrlich will join the Zak World of Façades NYC conference to discuss Creative Design Solutions in affordable housing projects. The panel discussion will explore the critical role of the building envelope in affordable housing—examining how budget constraints shape architectural decisions, from material selection to design configurations, and how these choices can affect the overall success of a development. Moderated by Brian Loughlin, other leaders on the panel include Carla Swickerath, Dylan Baker‑Rice and Sara Tsiropinas who will be speaking about their experience and projects relevant to facades construction.
Rachel specializes in affordable, supportive, and senior housing and is passionate about creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods that promote social equity by providing well-designed, sustainable homes for people of all income levels. During the panel, she will present Santaella Gardens project as a case study. For more info on the 249-unit mixed-used Passive House development, see this link.
The high-performance envelope offers enhanced thermal comfort and acoustic shielding from train and highway noise, while lowering heating and cooling costs for energy-burdened residents.
The high-performance envelope offers enhanced thermal comfort and acoustic shielding from train and highway noise, while lowering heating and cooling costs for
energy-burdened residents.
For more information and to register for the event, visit this link.
Dattner Architects’ Associate Principal Rachel Ehrlich will join the Zak World of Façades NYC conference to discuss Creative Design Solutions in affordable housing projects. The panel discussion will explore the critical role of the building envelope in affordable housing—examining how budget constraints shape architectural decisions, from material selection to design configurations, and how these choices can affect the overall success of a development. Moderated by Brian Loughlin, other leaders on the panel include Carla Swickerath, Dylan Baker‑Rice and Sara Tsiropinas who will be speaking about their experience and projects relevant to facades construction.
Rachel specializes in affordable, supportive, and senior housing and is passionate about creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods that promote social equity by providing well-designed, sustainable homes for people of all income levels. During the panel, she will present Santaella Gardens project as a case study. For more info on the 249-unit mixed-used Passive House development, see this link.
The high-performance envelope offers enhanced thermal comfort and acoustic shielding from train and highway noise, while lowering heating and cooling costs for energy-burdened residents.
The high-performance envelope offers enhanced thermal comfort and acoustic shielding from train and highway noise, while lowering heating and cooling costs for
energy-burdened residents.
For more information and to register for the event, visit this link.
Dattner Architects has been awarded a $15.5 million contract for the renovation of the Coburn Gore Land Port of Entry. This work is part of a broader $85 million project by U.S. General Services Administration to upgrade the facility. Originally built in 1932, the construction on the new port is set to begin in the fall of 2026.
The project includes a preliminary phase to determine replacement and/or renovation of existing port facilities and site infrastructure. Based on the findings from the study, the facility will be expanded and modernized while preserving the historic main port building and port facility housing.
This new facility, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enhance supply chain resilience, improve operational capabilities and infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen national security.
The project will establish a fully operational Land Port of Entry (LPOE) that seamlessly aligns with the traffic flow and operations of the Canadian port at Saint-Augustin-de-Woburn, Quebec. The new port will be designed to be functional, accessible, and equitable, enabling Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out its mission more effectively and improve its interactions with the public. Additionally, the facility will incorporate sustainable features to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize environmental impact, and increase the federal government's resilience to climate change.
Read Articles Below:
Maine’s Coburn Gore Border Port Set for $85M Expansion | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
Feds award nearly $15.5 million contract for new Coburn Gore Township border station (sunjournal.com)
Dattner Architects has been awarded a $15.5 million contract for the renovation of the Coburn Gore Land Port of Entry. This work is part of a broader $85 million project by U.S. General Services Administration to upgrade the facility. Originally built in 1932, the construction on the new port is set to begin in the fall of 2026.
The project includes a preliminary phase to determine replacement and/or renovation of existing port facilities and site infrastructure. Based on the findings from the study, the facility will be expanded and modernized while preserving the historic main port building and port facility housing.
This new facility, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enhance supply chain resilience, improve operational capabilities and infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen national security.
The project will establish a fully operational Land Port of Entry (LPOE) that seamlessly aligns with the traffic flow and operations of the Canadian port at Saint-Augustin-de-Woburn, Quebec. The new port will be designed to be functional, accessible, and equitable, enabling Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out its mission more effectively and improve its interactions with the public. Additionally, the facility will incorporate sustainable features to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize environmental impact, and increase the federal government's resilience to climate change.
Read Articles Below:
Maine’s Coburn Gore Border Port Set for $85M Expansion | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
Feds award nearly $15.5 million contract for new Coburn Gore Township border station (sunjournal.com)
Principal Catherine Selby was a featured speaker on a panel that delved into the burgeoning trend of Office-to-Resi conversions in NYC. The insightful session explored the design opportunities and challenges that arise from transforming outdated office spaces into modern residential units. Panelists included Christopher Okada (Okada & Company), James Nelson (Adison Young) and the discussion was moderated by Gerry Rothbart (Porcelanosa). Catherine discussed innovative solutions that maximize natural light, optimize floor plans, and incorporate sustainable materials to create desirable living environments.
The conversation also addressed the regulatory challenges that often accompany such conversions, including zoning and building code – as well as added complexities when converting to affordable housing. Catherine and her fellow panelists challenged the audience to bring their creativity and knowledge of NYC real estate to the complexities of adaptive reuse projects to push for these conversions to alleviate the city's housing shortage while revitalizing neighborhoods.
Principal Catherine Selby was a featured speaker on a panel that delved into the burgeoning trend of Office-to-Resi conversions in NYC. The insightful session explored the design opportunities and challenges that arise from transforming outdated office spaces into modern residential units. Panelists included Christopher Okada (Okada & Company), James Nelson (Adison Young) and the discussion was moderated by Gerry Rothbart (Porcelanosa). Catherine discussed innovative solutions that maximize natural light, optimize floor plans, and incorporate sustainable materials to create desirable living environments.
The conversation also addressed the regulatory challenges that often accompany such conversions, including zoning and building code – as well as added complexities when converting to affordable housing. Catherine and her fellow panelists challenged the audience to bring their creativity and knowledge of NYC real estate to the complexities of adaptive reuse projects to push for these conversions to alleviate the city's housing shortage while revitalizing neighborhoods.
Earlier this month, we hosted our first annual Friends and Family Day at Dattner Architects, welcoming guests to an afternoon filled with creativity and fun at our office. People brought along their children, partners, parents, friends, and roommates to our office.
We organized a variety of engaging activities for all ages, including crafting with compostable materials, a model shop demonstration, coloring pages featuring our projects, and more!
The children enjoyed putting on construction gear, feeling like architects for a day, and learning to use tools. Parents and friends were impressed by the work displayed throughout the office and were curious to learn more about the ongoing projects.
A highlight of the afternoon was the "Ask the Architects" panel, where Dattner panelists answered an array of questions—from "How do you make buildings?" to "What is the largest project Dattner Architects has ever built?"
The day concluded with an exciting tower-building competition, bringing out the creativity and spirit of all who participated.
Earlier this month, we hosted our first annual Friends and Family Day at Dattner Architects, welcoming guests to an afternoon filled with creativity and fun at our office. People brought along their children, partners, parents, friends, and roommates to our office.
We organized a variety of engaging activities for all ages, including crafting with compostable materials, a model shop demonstration, coloring pages featuring our projects, and more!
The children enjoyed putting on construction gear, feeling like architects for a day, and learning to use tools. Parents and friends were impressed by the work displayed throughout the office and were curious to learn more about the ongoing projects.
A highlight of the afternoon was the "Ask the Architects" panel, where Dattner panelists answered an array of questions—from "How do you make buildings?" to "What is the largest project Dattner Architects has ever built?"
The day concluded with an exciting tower-building competition, bringing out the creativity and spirit of all who participated.
Earlier this month at the SARA NY Design Awards Gala, the Stanley Manne Research Institute at Bronx High School of Science received the Design Award of Merit.
The institute is a state-of-the-art facility providing Bronx high school students the chance to conduct advanced experiments, preparing them for higher education or professional careers.
The project features three multidisciplinary labs, specialized rooms for various scientific needs, and a flexible design to accommodate evolving research requirements. It also provides summer programs, faculty mentorship, and advanced research opportunities in Microbiology, Animal Behavior, and Genetics for Bronx Science and other local public high school students.
Despite its modest size, the research center is a prominent addition to the school campus, complementing the main building and completing the student courtyard. It features a unique design with varying façade proportions and roof screening, giving it a distinct visual appeal from all sides.
Powered entirely by electricity from renewable sources, the building’s sophisticated scientific infrastructure is complemented by its sustainable design. It is expected to have an Energy Use Intensity 70% lower than typical laboratories and achieve a 10% energy savings over the NYC Energy Code baseline.
It was wonderful to celebrate with all the winners – congratulations to everyone
https://www.sarany.org/2024-design-awards
Earlier this month at the SARA NY Design Awards Gala, the Stanley Manne Research Institute at Bronx High School of Science received the Design Award of Merit.
The institute is a state-of-the-art facility providing Bronx high school students the chance to conduct advanced experiments, preparing them for higher education or professional careers.
The project features three multidisciplinary labs, specialized rooms for various scientific needs, and a flexible design to accommodate evolving research requirements. It also provides summer programs, faculty mentorship, and advanced research opportunities in Microbiology, Animal Behavior, and Genetics for Bronx Science and other local public high school students.
Despite its modest size, the research center is a prominent addition to the school campus, complementing the main building and completing the student courtyard. It features a unique design with varying façade proportions and roof screening, giving it a distinct visual appeal from all sides.
Powered entirely by electricity from renewable sources, the building’s sophisticated scientific infrastructure is complemented by its sustainable design. It is expected to have an Energy Use Intensity 70% lower than typical laboratories and achieve a 10% energy savings over the NYC Energy Code baseline.
It was wonderful to celebrate with all the winners – congratulations to everyone
https://www.sarany.org/2024-design-awards
Broome Street Development is listed as one of 10 projects that provide attractive, affordable, compact urban living in Urban Land’s recent article.
Located just South of the Essex Crossing / Seward Park Urban Renewal in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the project was developed by Gotham Organization and includes a 30-story mixed-use building, The Suffolk, and the 17-story Norfolk Building.
Designed by Dattner Architects and JG Neukomm Architecture, this 460,000 square foot mixed-use development encompasses a diverse mix of market-rate, affordable and senior housing, as well as a community facility and retail space.
The Suffolk Building includes a residential tower and a podium designed to complement the scale of a rapidly growing commercial street. It accommodates the new headquarters of the Chinese American Planning Council, offers small retail spaces, residential amenities, and also includes 33 compact "micro units" named “Abode” by Gotham. The micro units form a community centered around a shared suite of amenities for collective entertaining, working and recreation.
Breaking from a typical boxy layout, these nested studio spaces use a subtle offset in the plan to provide visual complexity, and a sense of privacy and space. The offset hides the front door from the living space, and floor to ceiling glass expands the interior outwards. A diagonal view from the main living area to the kitchen area and dining nook add a sense of spaciousness that exceeds actual dimensions of the unit.
These apartments come equipped with a cleverly designed murphy bed/storage unit that folds up and transforms into a couch and bookshelves when not in use. By increasing a building’s density with smaller yet livable spaces, micro-units may serve as one of several measures that can relieve the chronic housing shortages and high cost of living that affect so many cities.
Read full article:
UL10: Micro-Housing - Urban Land Magazine (uli.org)
Broome Street Development is listed as one of 10 projects that provide attractive, affordable, compact urban living in Urban Land’s recent article.
Located just South of the Essex Crossing / Seward Park Urban Renewal in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the project was developed by Gotham Organization and includes a 30-story mixed-use building, The Suffolk, and the 17-story Norfolk Building.
Designed by Dattner Architects and JG Neukomm Architecture, this 460,000 square foot mixed-use development encompasses a diverse mix of market-rate, affordable and senior housing, as well as a community facility and retail space.
The Suffolk Building includes a residential tower and a podium designed to complement the scale of a rapidly growing commercial street. It accommodates the new headquarters of the Chinese American Planning Council, offers small retail spaces, residential amenities, and also includes 33 compact "micro units" named “Abode” by Gotham. The micro units form a community centered around a shared suite of amenities for collective entertaining, working and recreation.
Breaking from a typical boxy layout, these nested studio spaces use a subtle offset in the plan to provide visual complexity, and a sense of privacy and space. The offset hides the front door from the living space, and floor to ceiling glass expands the interior outwards. A diagonal view from the main living area to the kitchen area and dining nook add a sense of spaciousness that exceeds actual dimensions of the unit.
These apartments come equipped with a cleverly designed murphy bed/storage unit that folds up and transforms into a couch and bookshelves when not in use. By increasing a building’s density with smaller yet livable spaces, micro-units may serve as one of several measures that can relieve the chronic housing shortages and high cost of living that affect so many cities.
Read full article:
UL10: Micro-Housing - Urban Land Magazine (uli.org)
Dattner Architects’ Principal Gia Mainiero moderated the Professional Women in Construction Design-Build Panel on April 30th. Gia worked with her fellow Event Co-chairs to bring together industry leaders with deep expertise in Design-Build delivery for an energetic and informative discussion with the PWC community.
[caption id="attachment_21411" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Panelists (left to right): Andrew Pearl - Swinerton; Jayne Czik, DBIA - Citnalta Construction Corp.; Jade Bailey, P.E., PMP, Assoc. DBIA - NYC Department of Design and Construction; Lisa Washington, CAE - Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)[/caption]
Design-Build delivery has expanded across the country in the last 30 years and currently accounts for over 40% of Construction spending. The panel discussed best practices and the benefits of education; the mindset and cultural shift required for full team collaboration; transparency in cost, schedule, and risk allocation; and Design Excellence as a part of the best value approach. Panelists looked forward to the future of the delivery model in New York, touching on advocacy, education, and a feedback loop for continuous improvement.
Under Gia's leadership, Dattner Architects' portfolio of Design-Build projects is rapidly growing as our clients transition to this collaborative delivery approach. Currently Dattner Architects is the Architect on the team for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $1.24 billion contract to design and build John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Central Terminal Area Roadways, Utilities and Ground Transportation Center (GTC) in Queens, New York. In addition, Dattner Architects is also the Architect for two ongoing design-build projects: the MTA C&D – Package 5 ADA Station Upgrades, which aims to make five stations in New York City accessible, as well as the renovation, restoration, and accessibility improvements at Brooklyn’s Historic Borough Hall Station.
A champion for design innovation and collaboration in Civic Architecture, Gia is a Board Member of PWC's New York Chapter, a member of DBIA, and serves on the DBIA National Design Professionals and Contracts Committees, as well as the DBIA Design Professionals' Advisory & Engagement Committee.
Dattner Architects’ Principal Gia Mainiero moderated the Professional Women in Construction Design-Build Panel on April 30th. Gia worked with her fellow Event Co-chairs to bring together industry leaders with deep expertise in Design-Build delivery for an energetic and informative discussion with the PWC community.
[caption id="attachment_21411" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Panelists (left to right): Andrew Pearl - Swinerton; Jayne Czik, DBIA - Citnalta Construction Corp.; Jade Bailey, P.E., PMP, Assoc. DBIA - NYC Department of Design and Construction; Lisa Washington, CAE - Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)[/caption]
Design-Build delivery has expanded across the country in the last 30 years and currently accounts for over 40% of Construction spending. The panel discussed best practices and the benefits of education; the mindset and cultural shift required for full team collaboration; transparency in cost, schedule, and risk allocation; and Design Excellence as a part of the best value approach. Panelists looked forward to the future of the delivery model in New York, touching on advocacy, education, and a feedback loop for continuous improvement.
Under Gia's leadership, Dattner Architects' portfolio of Design-Build projects is rapidly growing as our clients transition to this collaborative delivery approach. Currently Dattner Architects is the Architect on the team for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $1.24 billion contract to design and build John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Central Terminal Area Roadways, Utilities and Ground Transportation Center (GTC) in Queens, New York. In addition, Dattner Architects is also the Architect for two ongoing design-build projects: the MTA C&D – Package 5 ADA Station Upgrades, which aims to make five stations in New York City accessible, as well as the renovation, restoration, and accessibility improvements at Brooklyn’s Historic Borough Hall Station.
A champion for design innovation and collaboration in Civic Architecture, Gia is a Board Member of PWC's New York Chapter, a member of DBIA, and serves on the DBIA National Design Professionals and Contracts Committees, as well as the DBIA Design Professionals' Advisory & Engagement Committee.
Crain’s New York has recognized Dattner Architects’ Director of Sustainability Shefali Sanghvi as a leading voice in sustainability. At this key time in which the effects of climate change have become more apparent and exigent, Shefali understands architects and engineers have a unique responsibility to minimize the impact buildings have on our environment. As one of the Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability, Shefali is included in a select group of professionals redefining corporate commitments by overseeing decarbonization policy, designing environmentally conscious housing, heading sustainable investing and more.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a Leader in Sustainability with such a distinguished class, many of whom are familiar faces. The cross section of honorees strongly demonstrates that the commitment to addressing this climate emergency we're all facing is an all-hands-on-deck situation. It is a multi-disciplinary effort that takes the collective effort of smart, passionate people–and it nice to see us all being recognized in this way.” – Shefali Sanghvi AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP, Fitwel Amb.
Shefali has over 18 years of experience working on sustainable projects, with an emphasis on resiliency, occupant health and comfort, and energy efficiency. As Director of Sustainability, Shefali serves as a thought leader within Dattner Architects, and beyond, championing sustainability as integral to architecture. An expert on urban Passive House projects, she is dedicated to designing housing projects that are socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. She helps to establish the direction of Dattner Architects’ research and lead the exploration and application of sustainability in-house by facilitating knowledge sharing amongst project teams of all different typologies, firm leadership, and Dattner Architects’ professional development groups.
Read her full profile on Crains New York
Crain’s New York has recognized Dattner Architects’ Director of Sustainability Shefali Sanghvi as a leading voice in sustainability. At this key time in which the effects of climate change have become more apparent and exigent, Shefali understands architects and engineers have a unique responsibility to minimize the impact buildings have on our environment. As one of the Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability, Shefali is included in a select group of professionals redefining corporate commitments by overseeing decarbonization policy, designing environmentally conscious housing, heading sustainable investing and more.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a Leader in Sustainability with such a distinguished class, many of whom are familiar faces. The cross section of honorees strongly demonstrates that the commitment to addressing this climate emergency we're all facing is an all-hands-on-deck situation. It is a multi-disciplinary effort that takes the collective effort of smart, passionate people–and it nice to see us all being recognized in this way.” – Shefali Sanghvi AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP, Fitwel Amb.
Shefali has over 18 years of experience working on sustainable projects, with an emphasis on resiliency, occupant health and comfort, and energy efficiency. As Director of Sustainability, Shefali serves as a thought leader within Dattner Architects, and beyond, championing sustainability as integral to architecture. An expert on urban Passive House projects, she is dedicated to designing housing projects that are socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. She helps to establish the direction of Dattner Architects’ research and lead the exploration and application of sustainability in-house by facilitating knowledge sharing amongst project teams of all different typologies, firm leadership, and Dattner Architects’ professional development groups.
Read her full profile on Crains New York
Recently completed, 300 Huntington Street is a mixed-use, ground-up commercial development in Red Hook, Brooklyn at the southern end of the Gowanus Canal. Dattner Architects designed the project in collaboration with Bernheimer Architects and SCAPE Landscape Architecture for Monadnock Development, who will be the anchor tenant. Hazel Village, a handmade toy manufacturer, will have workshop and showroom space in the building. Retail space opens to the shore public walkway, anchoring the canal frontage.
300 Huntington provides a privately-owned, publicly accessible esplanade on its property, a gateway to the mile-long shore public walkway planned for the Gowanus Canal. Tenants will also have access to shared terrace space and the recently completed waterfront park.
Read more about how the building fits into the Gowanus Canal Remediation efforts:
https://www.aiany.org/membership/oculus-magazine/article/winter-2024/the-gowanus-canal-booming-test-bed-for-climate-change-adaptation/
The design incorporates sustainable and resilient design features that conserve resources and reduce costs. The building’s green roof has integrated vegetation that absorbs rainwater and provides other conducive elements to endorse and practice sustainability principles. Additionally, the property will include absorptive tree plantings using structural soil and a lifted grove.
Recently completed, 300 Huntington Street is a mixed-use, ground-up commercial development in Red Hook, Brooklyn at the southern end of the Gowanus Canal. Dattner Architects designed the project in collaboration with Bernheimer Architects and SCAPE Landscape Architecture for Monadnock Development, who will be the anchor tenant. Hazel Village, a handmade toy manufacturer, will have workshop and showroom space in the building. Retail space opens to the shore public walkway, anchoring the canal frontage.
300 Huntington provides a privately-owned, publicly accessible esplanade on its property, a gateway to the mile-long shore public walkway planned for the Gowanus Canal. Tenants will also have access to shared terrace space and the recently completed waterfront park.
Read more about how the building fits into the Gowanus Canal Remediation efforts:
https://www.aiany.org/membership/oculus-magazine/article/winter-2024/the-gowanus-canal-booming-test-bed-for-climate-change-adaptation/
The design incorporates sustainable and resilient design features that conserve resources and reduce costs. The building’s green roof has integrated vegetation that absorbs rainwater and provides other conducive elements to endorse and practice sustainability principles. Additionally, the property will include absorptive tree plantings using structural soil and a lifted grove.
Dattner Architects' Sustainable Practice Group (SPG) is a volunteer group that facilitates a positive environmental impact and improves occupant health, equity, and the resilience of the projects we touch through research on energy use, renewable energy, indoor environment and human health, sustainable materials, site ecology, and urban infrastructure. The Materials sub-committee within Dattner Architects' Sustainable Practice Group has invested several years in an in-depth exploration of Mass Timber, examining key aspects such as harvesting, processing, manufacturing, and life cycle analysis.
This research is shared publicly through a series of white papers called Sustainable Practices, and our Mass Timber research is our inaugural issue. The goal of the research is not only to understand the sustainability of Mass Timber throughout its life cycle but also to challenge preconceptions surrounding environmentally friendly materials. This report reflects our dedication to critically assessing the notion of material sustainability within our practice and navigating the complexities of incorporating Mass Timber into our projects.
Mass Timber offers a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials. Local regulatory limitations are expected to change in coming years as more Mass Timber projects come on line. Rigor and transparency is required when calculating and communicating carbon sequestration data, life cycle impact, and construction advantages. As architects advocate for low-carbon design solutions that account for future adaptability, innovative disassembly strategies, and prolonged material life spans, Mass Timber’s merits deserve continued research.
Drawing from insights gathered from peers, consultants, and clients, our research enriches our understanding of both the material itself and the practical considerations involved in its implementation.
View full Report
Dattner Architects' Sustainable Practice Group (SPG) is a volunteer group that facilitates a positive environmental impact and improves occupant health, equity, and the resilience of the projects we touch through research on energy use, renewable energy, indoor environment and human health, sustainable materials, site ecology, and urban infrastructure. The Materials sub-committee within Dattner Architects' Sustainable Practice Group has invested several years in an in-depth exploration of Mass Timber, examining key aspects such as harvesting, processing, manufacturing, and life cycle analysis.
This research is shared publicly through a series of white papers called Sustainable Practices, and our Mass Timber research is our inaugural issue. The goal of the research is not only to understand the sustainability of Mass Timber throughout its life cycle but also to challenge preconceptions surrounding environmentally friendly materials. This report reflects our dedication to critically assessing the notion of material sustainability within our practice and navigating the complexities of incorporating Mass Timber into our projects.
Mass Timber offers a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials. Local regulatory limitations are expected to change in coming years as more Mass Timber projects come on line. Rigor and transparency is required when calculating and communicating carbon sequestration data, life cycle impact, and construction advantages. As architects advocate for low-carbon design solutions that account for future adaptability, innovative disassembly strategies, and prolonged material life spans, Mass Timber’s merits deserve continued research.
Drawing from insights gathered from peers, consultants, and clients, our research enriches our understanding of both the material itself and the practical considerations involved in its implementation.
View full Report
The New York City Economic Development Corporation has selected the team of Ennead + Dattner for the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay project.
SPARC Kips Bay will be a first-of-its-kind job and education center in the heart of New York City that in total will include up to two million square feet for educational programs, workforce development, and job opportunities in the life sciences, public health, and healthcare sectors. It will transform Hunter College’s Brookdale Campus into a state-of-the-art academic, healthcare, and life sciences hub that will provide myriad benefits to the city, including billions of dollars in economic impact, improvements to the public realm, and a pipeline from local public schools and city universities into these growing fields.
The team will design a new 700,000 GSF education building which will be shared by three integrated CUNY schools – Hunter College School of Nursing, CUNY Graduate School of Health & Health Policy, and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) – and a new NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) health and science career-focused high school. The project also includes a large public open space, a new pedestrian bridge across the FDR to access the waterfront, and the continuation of floodproofing infrastructure along the East Side.
Ennead and Dattner Architects are thrilled to bring our years of experience working in NYC, our expertise in resiliency and sustainability, and our deep commitment to community and public space to help design this innovative new development to shape the city’s future. We look forward to sharing more updates soon.
The New York City Economic Development Corporation has selected the team of Ennead + Dattner for the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay project.
SPARC Kips Bay will be a first-of-its-kind job and education center in the heart of New York City that in total will include up to two million square feet for educational programs, workforce development, and job opportunities in the life sciences, public health, and healthcare sectors. It will transform Hunter College’s Brookdale Campus into a state-of-the-art academic, healthcare, and life sciences hub that will provide myriad benefits to the city, including billions of dollars in economic impact, improvements to the public realm, and a pipeline from local public schools and city universities into these growing fields.
The team will design a new 700,000 GSF education building which will be shared by three integrated CUNY schools – Hunter College School of Nursing, CUNY Graduate School of Health & Health Policy, and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) – and a new NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) health and science career-focused high school. The project also includes a large public open space, a new pedestrian bridge across the FDR to access the waterfront, and the continuation of floodproofing infrastructure along the East Side.
Ennead and Dattner Architects are thrilled to bring our years of experience working in NYC, our expertise in resiliency and sustainability, and our deep commitment to community and public space to help design this innovative new development to shape the city’s future. We look forward to sharing more updates soon.
In March 2024 project features, Metropolis Magazine highlighted Chestnut Commons as a case study in successful passive house design for an affordable, mixed-use development.
Chestnut Commons is one of Dattner Architects’ recently completed projects that not only follows passive house principles but also provides housing to the formerly homeless and low-income individuals. In addition to the housing, the project integrates a Community Center in the base of the building, which includes a satellite campus for CUNY Kingsborough Community College, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, a social services center run by the Cypress Hills Local Development Corp, and a Brooklyn Federal Credit Union branch.
Sustainability and affordability are issues often dealt with separately—while in case of Chestnut Commons, the intent was to build a project that not only houses people in need but also works toward creating true affordability for the residents. Viewed through a broadened lens of environmental equity and recognizing that utility bills are one of the largest burdens on a household’s income, the Passive House design strategy significantly lowers the cooling and heating loads on the building – providing a direct synthesis of affordability and sustainability.
To read the full article:
https://metropolismag.com/projects/this-brooklyn-multifamily-community-is-sustainable-and-affordable/
In March 2024 project features, Metropolis Magazine highlighted Chestnut Commons as a case study in successful passive house design for an affordable, mixed-use development.
Chestnut Commons is one of Dattner Architects’ recently completed projects that not only follows passive house principles but also provides housing to the formerly homeless and low-income individuals. In addition to the housing, the project integrates a Community Center in the base of the building, which includes a satellite campus for CUNY Kingsborough Community College, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, a social services center run by the Cypress Hills Local Development Corp, and a Brooklyn Federal Credit Union branch.
Sustainability and affordability are issues often dealt with separately—while in case of Chestnut Commons, the intent was to build a project that not only houses people in need but also works toward creating true affordability for the residents. Viewed through a broadened lens of environmental equity and recognizing that utility bills are one of the largest burdens on a household’s income, the Passive House design strategy significantly lowers the cooling and heating loads on the building – providing a direct synthesis of affordability and sustainability.
To read the full article:
https://metropolismag.com/projects/this-brooklyn-multifamily-community-is-sustainable-and-affordable/
In recognition of outstanding accomplishments and architectural excellence, annually the American Institute of Architects (AIA) appoints distinguished members to join the College of Fellows. Only 3% of AIA members attained this distinction.
Dattner Architects is delighted to announce that Principal John Woelfling FAIA has been chosen to join this year's cohort of AIA Fellows! Out of 96 candidates who were elevated by AIA National, John is one of the 10 members from the AIA New York chapter. John was recognized for his remarkable contributions to the advancement of the architectural profession through his commitment to innovative sustainable design and his continued advocacy for affordable housing.
John’s leadership in large-scale affordable housing has become a national model for addressing the housing crisis through sustainable, community-responsive design. With a commitment to sustainable practices, he has overseen the development of over twenty 100% affordable buildings, comprising more than 3,300 apartments. Notably, he has pioneered the integration of Passive House principles into multi-family affordable housing design, resulting in four of the largest Passive House mixed-use buildings in the United States, totaling 961 affordable apartments, with hundreds more now in design. These projects exemplify his dedication to environmental justice, resident health, and affordability. Moreover, each of these buildings marked the respective clients' first Passive House project, showcasing John’s innovative approach to sustainable architecture.
“The honor of having arrived at the professional milestone of joining the College of Fellows has clarified for me that a significant part of attaining this honor has been the journey. The self-reflecting process of preparing my application to the AIA N required that I assess the arc of my career and my impact on the profession. Some of it rewarding, some of it less so, but always an investment in something that was more than just a “job”. The worsening climate crisis and our City’s, State’s and Country’s affordable housing crisis call for architects to be civically engaged to guide public policy as well as designing environmentally responsible buildings. My application for Fellowship intertwined three themes that embody the Dattner Architects ethos and summarize my work: Affordable Housing, Leadership through Advocacy, and Innovative Sustainable Design. Architecture is an incredibly rewarding profession that requires patience and collaboration. The body of work that led to my elevation to the AIA College of Fellows resulted from both my personal and my colleagues’ dedication to civic and essential architecture.” – John Woelfling, FAIA
John has presented his experience successfully applying passive house principles to mid- and high-rise multifamily developments to a variety of audiences across North America including different organizations, professionals, students, and communities. He has led discussions at different events including the AIA National Conference, USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference, and was the keynote speaker at the PHIUS National Conference in Chicago. He was also named as one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability last year.
As a board member of the NYS Association for Affordable Housing and of his local community board in Brooklyn, NY, John advocates for community based affordable housing and sustainable design approaches. His “open source” approach to knowledge sharing serves as an inclusive approach to environmental design and sets a national model for integrating affordable housing with sustainable design.
Under John’s leadership, the firm’s affordable housing work integrates sustainable design standards to achieve buildings with superior indoor air quality and energy performance that address environmental inequities and result in positive impacts on communities.
In recognition of outstanding accomplishments and architectural excellence, annually the American Institute of Architects (AIA) appoints distinguished members to join the College of Fellows. Only 3% of AIA members attained this distinction.
Dattner Architects is delighted to announce that Principal John Woelfling FAIA has been chosen to join this year's cohort of AIA Fellows! Out of 96 candidates who were elevated by AIA National, John is one of the 10 members from the AIA New York chapter. John was recognized for his remarkable contributions to the advancement of the architectural profession through his commitment to innovative sustainable design and his continued advocacy for affordable housing.
John’s leadership in large-scale affordable housing has become a national model for addressing the housing crisis through sustainable, community-responsive design. With a commitment to sustainable practices, he has overseen the development of over twenty 100% affordable buildings, comprising more than 3,300 apartments. Notably, he has pioneered the integration of Passive House principles into multi-family affordable housing design, resulting in four of the largest Passive House mixed-use buildings in the United States, totaling 961 affordable apartments, with hundreds more now in design. These projects exemplify his dedication to environmental justice, resident health, and affordability. Moreover, each of these buildings marked the respective clients' first Passive House project, showcasing John’s innovative approach to sustainable architecture.
“The honor of having arrived at the professional milestone of joining the College of Fellows has clarified for me that a significant part of attaining this honor has been the journey. The self-reflecting process of preparing my application to the AIA N required that I assess the arc of my career and my impact on the profession. Some of it rewarding, some of it less so, but always an investment in something that was more than just a “job”. The worsening climate crisis and our City’s, State’s and Country’s affordable housing crisis call for architects to be civically engaged to guide public policy as well as designing environmentally responsible buildings. My application for Fellowship intertwined three themes that embody the Dattner Architects ethos and summarize my work: Affordable Housing, Leadership through Advocacy, and Innovative Sustainable Design. Architecture is an incredibly rewarding profession that requires patience and collaboration. The body of work that led to my elevation to the AIA College of Fellows resulted from both my personal and my colleagues’ dedication to civic and essential architecture.” – John Woelfling, FAIA
John has presented his experience successfully applying passive house principles to mid- and high-rise multifamily developments to a variety of audiences across North America including different organizations, professionals, students, and communities. He has led discussions at different events including the AIA National Conference, USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference, and was the keynote speaker at the PHIUS National Conference in Chicago. He was also named as one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability last year.
As a board member of the NYS Association for Affordable Housing and of his local community board in Brooklyn, NY, John advocates for community based affordable housing and sustainable design approaches. His “open source” approach to knowledge sharing serves as an inclusive approach to environmental design and sets a national model for integrating affordable housing with sustainable design.
Under John’s leadership, the firm’s affordable housing work integrates sustainable design standards to achieve buildings with superior indoor air quality and energy performance that address environmental inequities and result in positive impacts on communities.
Dattner Architects’ Director of Sustainability, Shefali Sanghvi and Associate, Heather McKinstry will be speaking at the Passive House Accelerator’s Reimagine Buildings’ 24 (RB’24) held on March 7 and March 8.
A new vision for what a global conference can be, PHA’s, RB’24 is a virtual experience tailored to provide essential knowledge, connections, and inspiration to create impactful buildings that are resilient and equitable. For 24 hours speakers and audience members will discuss new, innovative buildings, exploring topics like deep energy efficiency, low-embodied carbon and more.
Heather will join a panel of experts on the main stage to discuss the climate crisis and the affordability crisis. She will highlight Dattner Architects’ 425 Grand Concourse project as an example of how affordable housing projects benefit from Passive House solutions.
Friday March 8th, 2024: 8am – 8:50am
Hour 21: Haven For All: Climate Resilient Affordable Housing
Shefali will be speaking at the closing panel during the conclusion of the event, presenting a global view on resiliency of buildings, sites, and the future of sustainable, equitable development.
Friday March 8th, 2024: 11am – 12pm
Hour 24: Closing the Circle: Equity, Resiliency, and Future Horizons
Learn from people from around the world are adopting better building techniques that not only embrace Passive House standards but also plant-based materials, and localized approaches to decarbonization and resiliency.
More and register here:
https://www.accelevents.com/e/passive-house-accelerator?aff=AIANYS
Dattner Architects’ Director of Sustainability, Shefali Sanghvi and Associate, Heather McKinstry will be speaking at the Passive House Accelerator’s Reimagine Buildings’ 24 (RB’24) held on March 7 and March 8.
A new vision for what a global conference can be, PHA’s, RB’24 is a virtual experience tailored to provide essential knowledge, connections, and inspiration to create impactful buildings that are resilient and equitable. For 24 hours speakers and audience members will discuss new, innovative buildings, exploring topics like deep energy efficiency, low-embodied carbon and more.
Heather will join a panel of experts on the main stage to discuss the climate crisis and the affordability crisis. She will highlight Dattner Architects’ 425 Grand Concourse project as an example of how affordable housing projects benefit from Passive House solutions.
Friday March 8th, 2024: 8am – 8:50am
Hour 21: Haven For All: Climate Resilient Affordable Housing
Shefali will be speaking at the closing panel during the conclusion of the event, presenting a global view on resiliency of buildings, sites, and the future of sustainable, equitable development.
Friday March 8th, 2024: 11am – 12pm
Hour 24: Closing the Circle: Equity, Resiliency, and Future Horizons
Learn from people from around the world are adopting better building techniques that not only embrace Passive House standards but also plant-based materials, and localized approaches to decarbonization and resiliency.
More and register here:
https://www.accelevents.com/e/passive-house-accelerator?aff=AIANYS
Featured in the January/February 2024 issue, The Architect’s Newspaper included the latest updates on Dattner Architects’ Alafia Master Plan and highlights from a discussion with Daniel Heuberger, the Principal in Charge of the plan, and subsequent phase 1 design...Situated on a 27-acre site at the northern edge of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn, Alafia is an ambitious master plan that will transform a decommissioned state psychiatric hospital into a wellness-oriented resilient community designed to address the chronic social, economic, and health disparities in a historically underserved area.
The project is based on notable planning principles.
Integrating a mix of scales to foster a sense of place, identification, and belonging. The personal scale includes small scale spaces, individualized buildings, lobbies, and finishes. The communal scale includes buildings centered around shared amenities and garden spaces. The neighborhood scale creates a publicly accessible interior campus, crossed by city streets, welcoming pedestrians and vehicles.
Currently in the first phase of construction, the mixed-use, mid-rise Building C1/C2 will provide 452 units of affordable housing including units for the formerly homeless and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it will include exterior and interior amenity spaces, a social services suite, a health clinic, and retail spaces. Building C3 will provide 124 units and will include exterior and interior amenity spaces. The buildings are designed to be Passive House certified.
We have started construction of the Maintenance Hub, which will serve as a flexible operational facility, ensuring compliance with both current and future waste regulations. The centralized trash and recycling collection facility will allow waste, biowaste, and recyclable waste streams from throughout the development to be centralized.
As one of the largest projects to result from the New York State Vital Brooklyn Initiative, Dattner Architects designed the master plan in collaboration with landscape architect SCAPE.
“The buildings share a number of common characteristics: a communal identity built around a shared, defensible, and safe outdoor space; a lively, activated ground plane with residential, commercial, and community facility activities on all sides of the structure; a sense of place created by a mix of scales and unique massing to each building; and a healthy, comfortable environment based on sustainable, Passive House principles.”- Daniel Heuberger, Principal at Dattner Articles.
Read full article here:
Alafia by Dattner and SCAPE is underway in East New York (archpaper.com)
Featured in the January/February 2024 issue, The Architect’s Newspaper included the latest updates on Dattner Architects’ Alafia Master Plan and highlights from a discussion with Daniel Heuberger, the Principal in Charge of the plan, and subsequent phase 1 design...Situated on a 27-acre site at the northern edge of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn, Alafia is an ambitious master plan that will transform a decommissioned state psychiatric hospital into a wellness-oriented resilient community designed to address the chronic social, economic, and health disparities in a historically underserved area.
The project is based on notable planning principles.
Integrating a mix of scales to foster a sense of place, identification, and belonging. The personal scale includes small scale spaces, individualized buildings, lobbies, and finishes. The communal scale includes buildings centered around shared amenities and garden spaces. The neighborhood scale creates a publicly accessible interior campus, crossed by city streets, welcoming pedestrians and vehicles.
Currently in the first phase of construction, the mixed-use, mid-rise Building C1/C2 will provide 452 units of affordable housing including units for the formerly homeless and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it will include exterior and interior amenity spaces, a social services suite, a health clinic, and retail spaces. Building C3 will provide 124 units and will include exterior and interior amenity spaces. The buildings are designed to be Passive House certified.
We have started construction of the Maintenance Hub, which will serve as a flexible operational facility, ensuring compliance with both current and future waste regulations. The centralized trash and recycling collection facility will allow waste, biowaste, and recyclable waste streams from throughout the development to be centralized.
As one of the largest projects to result from the New York State Vital Brooklyn Initiative, Dattner Architects designed the master plan in collaboration with landscape architect SCAPE.
“The buildings share a number of common characteristics: a communal identity built around a shared, defensible, and safe outdoor space; a lively, activated ground plane with residential, commercial, and community facility activities on all sides of the structure; a sense of place created by a mix of scales and unique massing to each building; and a healthy, comfortable environment based on sustainable, Passive House principles.”- Daniel Heuberger, Principal at Dattner Articles.
Read full article here:
Alafia by Dattner and SCAPE is underway in East New York (archpaper.com)
With a diverse portfolio spanning six decades, Dattner Architects has played a pivotal role in reshaping urban landscapes, creating spaces that not only provide shelter but also foster a sense of community and dignity for those in need. Grounded in principles of inclusivity and sustainability, our work reflects a deep understanding of the complexities of homelessness and the importance of providing holistic support systems. We are designing two shelter and supportive housing projects that will not only provide for those in need for housing but also clinic services for the community at large.
59th Street Shelter
59th Street Shelter is a new 200-bed women's shelter on West 59th Street in Manhattan under construction that, in addition to providing much needed emergency housing for the unhoused, will also include a public-facing Article 28 outpatient medical clinic. This project will be operated by Project Renewal and as a joint development venture with the Hudson Companies, two NYC based organizations with a long history of providing local affordable and supportive housing. The new building unlocks the available floor area on the site to provide a 51,000 square foot, 9-story building designed to achieve LEED Gold.
The building features green roofs and a street-facing landscaped terrace for residents to engage in gardening and passive recreation. This terrace was born from the project's unique site context which informed the building massing, diagrammatically allowing the adjacent public park to fold over and onto the setback roof.
Understanding the importance of the first impressions of a building by an arriving shelter resident, the façades were composed with a multi-family residential association in their materiality, scale, and detailing. The building’s superstructure was leveraged to create large windows in the primary façade that provide an abundance of natural daylight into the shelter dormitories.
New Providence Redevelopment
New Providence is the redevelopment of a 6-story women’s shelter on East 45th Steet in Manhattan that Project Renewal operated for several decades. The building did not meet the programmatic needs and the site was significantly under-built. In a joint venture between Project Renewal and Monadnock Development, Dattner Architects was retained to design a new building to redevelop the site with a purpose-built women’s shelter and supportive housing.
The new 130,000 square foot, 21-story building will include a 171-bed women's shelter and will provide 130 supportive and affordable housing units. The shelter will function as transitional housing for shelter clients and the supportive and affordable units will be permanent housing for residents.
The shelter is located at the base of the building and includes exterior amenity space, recreation areas, a full kitchen for food service and cooking/hospitality training, and extensive therapeutic and social service support facilities. The supportive housing component includes its own exterior amenity space and a large social services suite. A public-facing Article 28 health clinic operated by Project Renewal on the ground floor will serve both the residents of the building and the surrounding neighborhood.
With a diverse portfolio spanning six decades, Dattner Architects has played a pivotal role in reshaping urban landscapes, creating spaces that not only provide shelter but also foster a sense of community and dignity for those in need. Grounded in principles of inclusivity and sustainability, our work reflects a deep understanding of the complexities of homelessness and the importance of providing holistic support systems. We are designing two shelter and supportive housing projects that will not only provide for those in need for housing but also clinic services for the community at large.
59th Street Shelter
59th Street Shelter is a new 200-bed women's shelter on West 59th Street in Manhattan under construction that, in addition to providing much needed emergency housing for the unhoused, will also include a public-facing Article 28 outpatient medical clinic. This project will be operated by Project Renewal and as a joint development venture with the Hudson Companies, two NYC based organizations with a long history of providing local affordable and supportive housing. The new building unlocks the available floor area on the site to provide a 51,000 square foot, 9-story building designed to achieve LEED Gold.
The building features green roofs and a street-facing landscaped terrace for residents to engage in gardening and passive recreation. This terrace was born from the project's unique site context which informed the building massing, diagrammatically allowing the adjacent public park to fold over and onto the setback roof.
Understanding the importance of the first impressions of a building by an arriving shelter resident, the façades were composed with a multi-family residential association in their materiality, scale, and detailing. The building’s superstructure was leveraged to create large windows in the primary façade that provide an abundance of natural daylight into the shelter dormitories.
New Providence Redevelopment
New Providence is the redevelopment of a 6-story women’s shelter on East 45th Steet in Manhattan that Project Renewal operated for several decades. The building did not meet the programmatic needs and the site was significantly under-built. In a joint venture between Project Renewal and Monadnock Development, Dattner Architects was retained to design a new building to redevelop the site with a purpose-built women’s shelter and supportive housing.
The new 130,000 square foot, 21-story building will include a 171-bed women's shelter and will provide 130 supportive and affordable housing units. The shelter will function as transitional housing for shelter clients and the supportive and affordable units will be permanent housing for residents.
The shelter is located at the base of the building and includes exterior amenity space, recreation areas, a full kitchen for food service and cooking/hospitality training, and extensive therapeutic and social service support facilities. The supportive housing component includes its own exterior amenity space and a large social services suite. A public-facing Article 28 health clinic operated by Project Renewal on the ground floor will serve both the residents of the building and the surrounding neighborhood.
Principal Paul Bauer and Director of Sustainability, Senior Associate, Shefali Sanghvi joined industry leaders and peers at this year’s New York Build Expo on February 14th at the Javits Center.
Panel: From Waste to Wealth: Circular Construction for a Sustainable Future
Date & Time: February 14, 2024, at 12:00pm
Speakers: Shefali Sanghvi (Dattner Architects); Nicole Spina (NYCEDC); Amanda Kaminsky (Americas - Lendlease); Kritika Kharbanda (Henning Larsen); Kat West (Turner & Townsend); Sheida Shahi (Adaptis); Jonathan Munkley (WSP, Zero Construct)
Panel: Designing a Safer City for All
Date & Time: February 14, 2024, at 11:00pm
Speakers: Paul Bauer (Dattner Architects); Adam Paul Susaneck (AECOM Metro New York); Roberto Vila (Stantec); Sofia Berger (WSP); Aaron Mendelsohn (New York City Council)
The New York Build Expo is the largest construction and design show for New York and the Tri-State area. The show features 500+ top industry speakers across 15 different tracks and AIA CES approved workshops, 400+ exhibitors, exclusive free-to-attend networking events including the Women in Construction and Diversity in Construction, an Architect’s Hub, and much more.
Principal Paul Bauer and Director of Sustainability, Senior Associate, Shefali Sanghvi joined industry leaders and peers at this year’s New York Build Expo on February 14th at the Javits Center.
Panel: From Waste to Wealth: Circular Construction for a Sustainable Future
Date & Time: February 14, 2024, at 12:00pm
Speakers: Shefali Sanghvi (Dattner Architects); Nicole Spina (NYCEDC); Amanda Kaminsky (Americas - Lendlease); Kritika Kharbanda (Henning Larsen); Kat West (Turner & Townsend); Sheida Shahi (Adaptis); Jonathan Munkley (WSP, Zero Construct)
Panel: Designing a Safer City for All
Date & Time: February 14, 2024, at 11:00pm
Speakers: Paul Bauer (Dattner Architects); Adam Paul Susaneck (AECOM Metro New York); Roberto Vila (Stantec); Sofia Berger (WSP); Aaron Mendelsohn (New York City Council)
The New York Build Expo is the largest construction and design show for New York and the Tri-State area. The show features 500+ top industry speakers across 15 different tracks and AIA CES approved workshops, 400+ exhibitors, exclusive free-to-attend networking events including the Women in Construction and Diversity in Construction, an Architect’s Hub, and much more.
Dattner Architects’ Associate Principal Rachel Ehrlich AIA, LEED AP BD+C talks with Urban Omnibus (The Architectural League of New York) about designing projects that address the intersectional crises of affordable housing and climate change, the role of architects when creating housing within tight sites and underserved communities, and the value of collaboration.
In the interview with Mariana Mogilevich, editor-in-chief of Urban Omnibus, Rachel highlights design solutions and challenges faced during design and construction of the recently completed affordable housing project Santaella Gardens, and supporting housing project St. James Terrace.
The way that we create housing in New York City is its own ecosystem and industry. The architecture is a tiny piece of it. We think of the building as being the most important part, but the people that put together the financing think of money as the most important part. And then the people who are providing social services to the people in these homes are like: “Obviously, caring for these people is the most important part. If we don’t figure that out, what are we doing here?”
Rachel is a leader in the design of affordable housing, and she has a distinct focus on supportive and senior living spaces. A climate activist, her dedication centers around enriching communities, creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods that serve as the foundation for social equity. Through her expertise, she strives to provide well-designed, sustainable homes for individuals across all income levels.
For the last four years, Rachel has represented Madison, New Jersey as a council member where she supports the town’s concerns regarding infrastructure, capital projects, and climate action.
“We recently adopted climate goals in our town of 17,000 people and are working towards cutting carbon pollution and increasing resiliency to mitigate the effects of climate change that are already here.”
Read more:
https://urbanomnibus.net/2024/01/building-out-of-a-tight-spot/
Dattner Architects’ Associate Principal Rachel Ehrlich AIA, LEED AP BD+C talks with Urban Omnibus (The Architectural League of New York) about designing projects that address the intersectional crises of affordable housing and climate change, the role of architects when creating housing within tight sites and underserved communities, and the value of collaboration.
In the interview with Mariana Mogilevich, editor-in-chief of Urban Omnibus, Rachel highlights design solutions and challenges faced during design and construction of the recently completed affordable housing project Santaella Gardens, and supporting housing project St. James Terrace.
The way that we create housing in New York City is its own ecosystem and industry. The architecture is a tiny piece of it. We think of the building as being the most important part, but the people that put together the financing think of money as the most important part. And then the people who are providing social services to the people in these homes are like: “Obviously, caring for these people is the most important part. If we don’t figure that out, what are we doing here?”
Rachel is a leader in the design of affordable housing, and she has a distinct focus on supportive and senior living spaces. A climate activist, her dedication centers around enriching communities, creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods that serve as the foundation for social equity. Through her expertise, she strives to provide well-designed, sustainable homes for individuals across all income levels.
For the last four years, Rachel has represented Madison, New Jersey as a council member where she supports the town’s concerns regarding infrastructure, capital projects, and climate action.
“We recently adopted climate goals in our town of 17,000 people and are working towards cutting carbon pollution and increasing resiliency to mitigate the effects of climate change that are already here.”
Read more:
https://urbanomnibus.net/2024/01/building-out-of-a-tight-spot/
Dattner Architects will host The Architectural League's First Friday on March 1st, 2024.
As part of The Architectural League’s well-regarded First Friday Series, we are opening up our office to members on March 1, 2024. Join us for an evening of drinks, conversation, and a look into our ongoing and award-winning projects, culture, and space.
The League’s First Friday events are informal social gatherings that allow members to visit the offices of leading design practices and see work on the boards.
We will be highlighting projects from our archives as well as exhibiting new projects, our Passive House affordable housing, and a group of adaptive re-use projects. We also hope to provide insight into our professional development programs and ERGs.
Registration opens soon, directly through the Architectural League:
First Friday: Dattner Architects - The Architectural League of New York (archleague.org)
Dattner Architects will host The Architectural League's First Friday on March 1st, 2024.
As part of The Architectural League’s well-regarded First Friday Series, we are opening up our office to members on March 1, 2024. Join us for an evening of drinks, conversation, and a look into our ongoing and award-winning projects, culture, and space.
The League’s First Friday events are informal social gatherings that allow members to visit the offices of leading design practices and see work on the boards.
We will be highlighting projects from our archives as well as exhibiting new projects, our Passive House affordable housing, and a group of adaptive re-use projects. We also hope to provide insight into our professional development programs and ERGs.
Registration opens soon, directly through the Architectural League:
First Friday: Dattner Architects - The Architectural League of New York (archleague.org)
Dattner Architects proudly announces the promotion of four new Senior Associates and three Associates. These promotions reflect these employees’ dedication to our firm, commitment to our civic architecture mission, and professional rigor.
Aaron Campbell, Lola Rodriguez, Pascale Baladi have been elevated to Associate. Our new Senior Associates are Adam Siegel, Jon King, Patrick McAffrey, and Wei Wang.
“The dedication and achievements of these seven professionals is celebrated through these promotions. They each bring a welcome and distinctive perspective to our practice, and we are excited about their continued impact on our firm and our projects.”
- Kirsten Sibilia, Managing Principal
Aaron Campbell, RA, CPHC, Associate has worked in architecture, exhibitions, fabrication, real estate development, and general contracting. These experiences shaped his understanding of how architectural knowledge operates within a larger industry context. His focus is on the design of accessible public facilities, and he is currently a team member for the design of the Hoboken Maritime Park.
Lola Rodriguez, RA, LEED AP, Associate has focused her career on projects that serve the public. She balances her broad international perspective from her training and practice as a licensed architect in Peru with her local work experience, to guide each project from conception to completion. Lola is an essential part of the team designing and building JFK’s Central Terminal Roadways and Ground Transportation Center
Pascale Baladi, AIA, Associate is fascinated with the different ways in which cultures shape the inner workings of modern urban environments, and how they influence the way humans’ paths cross, intertwine, mingle, and engage with each other. This fascination has led her to pursue design of urban multi-family residential buildings, where she hopes to contribute to the provision of safe, equitable, and affordable homes for each diverse community. Pascale was nominated for 2023 METROPOLIS’ inaugural Arch30 Event which recognizes the next generation of leadership in architecture. She is a member of the firm’s EDI Task Force.
Inspired by the city of New York, Adam Siegel, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Assoc. DBIA, ENV SP, PMP, Senior Associate believes in architecture’s ability to create a sustainable future through design excellence. Concentrating on the design of urban transportation and infrastructure projects, he is committed to an engaged, collaborative process that fulfills the team’s design aspirations as well as meets the needs of stakeholders. Adam’s skill as a project manager carries through to the construction site.
Jon King AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate has the ability to integrate and manage functionality and design goals results in built projects with enduring and sustainable value. He applies a deep understanding of high-performance building practices to his projects informed in part through continual research and collaboration with industry experts on subjects including thermal envelope assemblies and building systems.
Formally trained in both architecture and product design, Patrick McAffrey AIA, Senior Associate ’s passion for intelligent urbanism has led him to focus his work on infrastructure and transportation projects, which he believes have profound impact on the building fabric and urban lifestyles they support. Patrick is the project manager for Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) District 3 Garage under construction in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and the Studio Director for our Transportation/Infrastructure Studio
Wei Wang AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate believes the architect’s role goes beyond design and function; it also uplifts communities and fosters social equity. She has experience managing projects, from mixed-use high-rise residential developments to commercial buildings. Passionate about building materials and research, Wei co-chairs the firm’s Sustainable Practice Group and AIA Committee on the Environment. She was called upon to represent the next generation of architects as the Young Architects Representative for AIA New York State.
Dattner Architects proudly announces the promotion of four new Senior Associates and three Associates. These promotions reflect these employees’ dedication to our firm, commitment to our civic architecture mission, and professional rigor.
Aaron Campbell, Lola Rodriguez, Pascale Baladi have been elevated to Associate. Our new Senior Associates are Adam Siegel, Jon King, Patrick McAffrey, and Wei Wang.
“The dedication and achievements of these seven professionals is celebrated through these promotions. They each bring a welcome and distinctive perspective to our practice, and we are excited about their continued impact on our firm and our projects.”
- Kirsten Sibilia, Managing Principal
Aaron Campbell, RA, CPHC, Associate has worked in architecture, exhibitions, fabrication, real estate development, and general contracting. These experiences shaped his understanding of how architectural knowledge operates within a larger industry context. His focus is on the design of accessible public facilities, and he is currently a team member for the design of the Hoboken Maritime Park.
Lola Rodriguez, RA, LEED AP, Associate has focused her career on projects that serve the public. She balances her broad international perspective from her training and practice as a licensed architect in Peru with her local work experience, to guide each project from conception to completion. Lola is an essential part of the team designing and building JFK’s Central Terminal Roadways and Ground Transportation Center
Pascale Baladi, AIA, Associate is fascinated with the different ways in which cultures shape the inner workings of modern urban environments, and how they influence the way humans’ paths cross, intertwine, mingle, and engage with each other. This fascination has led her to pursue design of urban multi-family residential buildings, where she hopes to contribute to the provision of safe, equitable, and affordable homes for each diverse community. Pascale was nominated for 2023 METROPOLIS’ inaugural Arch30 Event which recognizes the next generation of leadership in architecture. She is a member of the firm’s EDI Task Force.
Inspired by the city of New York, Adam Siegel, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Assoc. DBIA, ENV SP, PMP, Senior Associate believes in architecture’s ability to create a sustainable future through design excellence. Concentrating on the design of urban transportation and infrastructure projects, he is committed to an engaged, collaborative process that fulfills the team’s design aspirations as well as meets the needs of stakeholders. Adam’s skill as a project manager carries through to the construction site.
Jon King AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate has the ability to integrate and manage functionality and design goals results in built projects with enduring and sustainable value. He applies a deep understanding of high-performance building practices to his projects informed in part through continual research and collaboration with industry experts on subjects including thermal envelope assemblies and building systems.
Formally trained in both architecture and product design, Patrick McAffrey AIA, Senior Associate ’s passion for intelligent urbanism has led him to focus his work on infrastructure and transportation projects, which he believes have profound impact on the building fabric and urban lifestyles they support. Patrick is the project manager for Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) District 3 Garage under construction in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and the Studio Director for our Transportation/Infrastructure Studio
Wei Wang AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate believes the architect’s role goes beyond design and function; it also uplifts communities and fosters social equity. She has experience managing projects, from mixed-use high-rise residential developments to commercial buildings. Passionate about building materials and research, Wei co-chairs the firm’s Sustainable Practice Group and AIA Committee on the Environment. She was called upon to represent the next generation of architects as the Young Architects Representative for AIA New York State.
Bronx High School of Science, Stanley Manne Research Institute has been awarded an Editor’s Pick in the Education - Kindergarten, Primary & High School category for The Architect’s Newspapers Best of Design 2023!
Located at the Bronx High School of Science, one of New York City’s top public schools, the Stanley Manne Research Institute is a new state-of-the-art research building, gifted to the campus by Bronx Science ’58 alum Stanley Manne. This university-level facility allows high school students from across the Bronx to conduct long-term experiments and prepare for college or professional settings.
The building houses three multidisciplinary labs, a walk-in cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room, animal room, and a multi-purpose room for special events. Like a professional lab, spaces are modular and flexible, as equipment and science requirements change over time.
The façade is composed of tightly spaced, fiber-reinforced concrete panels, punctuated by modular openings that relate to the compact and rational laboratory plans. The three-dimensional panels cast changing and dynamic shadows on the façade over the course of the day. Bright green brick accents representing the school color mark the entrances and carry inside to the main stair and lobby. These design elements serve both an aesthetic and performance function, as the tight building envelope and careful design of the exterior allowed for reduction in heating and cooling loads, which made the all-electric systems feasible for the project. Based on the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories benchmarking, the project’s Energy Use Intensity is expected to be 70% of typical laboratory buildings.
Bronx High School of Science, Stanley Manne Research Institute has been awarded an Editor’s Pick in the Education - Kindergarten, Primary & High School category for The Architect’s Newspapers Best of Design 2023!
Located at the Bronx High School of Science, one of New York City’s top public schools, the Stanley Manne Research Institute is a new state-of-the-art research building, gifted to the campus by Bronx Science ’58 alum Stanley Manne. This university-level facility allows high school students from across the Bronx to conduct long-term experiments and prepare for college or professional settings.
The building houses three multidisciplinary labs, a walk-in cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room, animal room, and a multi-purpose room for special events. Like a professional lab, spaces are modular and flexible, as equipment and science requirements change over time.
The façade is composed of tightly spaced, fiber-reinforced concrete panels, punctuated by modular openings that relate to the compact and rational laboratory plans. The three-dimensional panels cast changing and dynamic shadows on the façade over the course of the day. Bright green brick accents representing the school color mark the entrances and carry inside to the main stair and lobby. These design elements serve both an aesthetic and performance function, as the tight building envelope and careful design of the exterior allowed for reduction in heating and cooling loads, which made the all-electric systems feasible for the project. Based on the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories benchmarking, the project’s Energy Use Intensity is expected to be 70% of typical laboratory buildings.
Congratulations to William (Bill) Stein FAIA as he steps into the role of Principal Emeritus. Bill has been a vital leader of Dattner Architects for over forty-five years. His career exemplifies architecture in service to society, committed to design excellence and civic engagement.
Bill studied with Richard Dattner at the City College School of Architecture (now the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture) and joined Richard’s practice in 1977. He became an associate in 1980 and a principal in 1999. At Dattner Architects he has fostered a collaborative, inclusive culture, shaping buildings that serve social needs and improve neighborhoods.
He has directed notable civic and housing projects throughout New York City and guided the growth of the firm’s affordable housing practice. From Public School 234 in the heart of Tribeca, to the landmark West 72nd Street Subway Station, to The New York Public Library’s Bronx Library Center, to Via Verde, the award-winning, sustainable affordable housing development, Bill’s work has had a lasting impact on the public realm and the lives of New Yorkers.
Bill is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He served as a Vice-President of AIA NY and President of the Center for Architecture Foundation. He chaired a code review committee for the NYC Model Code Adoption and is a board member of the Citizens Housing & Planning Council. In 2021 he received the Henry Hobson Richardson Award from the AIA NYS, recognizing architects who have made a significant contribution to the quality of public architecture in New York State.
Congratulations to William (Bill) Stein FAIA as he steps into the role of Principal Emeritus. Bill has been a vital leader of Dattner Architects for over forty-five years. His career exemplifies architecture in service to society, committed to design excellence and civic engagement.
Bill studied with Richard Dattner at the City College School of Architecture (now the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture) and joined Richard’s practice in 1977. He became an associate in 1980 and a principal in 1999. At Dattner Architects he has fostered a collaborative, inclusive culture, shaping buildings that serve social needs and improve neighborhoods.
He has directed notable civic and housing projects throughout New York City and guided the growth of the firm’s affordable housing practice. From Public School 234 in the heart of Tribeca, to the landmark West 72nd Street Subway Station, to The New York Public Library’s Bronx Library Center, to Via Verde, the award-winning, sustainable affordable housing development, Bill’s work has had a lasting impact on the public realm and the lives of New Yorkers.
Bill is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He served as a Vice-President of AIA NY and President of the Center for Architecture Foundation. He chaired a code review committee for the NYC Model Code Adoption and is a board member of the Citizens Housing & Planning Council. In 2021 he received the Henry Hobson Richardson Award from the AIA NYS, recognizing architects who have made a significant contribution to the quality of public architecture in New York State.
We are thrilled to share that Dattner Architects’ project Bronx High School of Science; Stanley Manne Institute was recognized as ENR (Engineering News- Record) 2023 New York Best Project k-12 Education Project.
Located at the Bronx High School of Science, the Stanley Manne Research Institute is a new state-of-the-art research building named after, and generously funded by, Bronx Science alumnus Stanley Manne. This university-level facility will allow high school students from across the Bronx to conduct long-term experiments, preparing them for college or professional settings.
The building houses three multidisciplinary labs, a walk-in cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room, animal room, and a multi-purpose room for special events. Like a professional lab, spaces are modular and flexible, as equipment and science requirements change over time. Each lab is served by a computational room for group meetings, lectures, and experiment data review.
For more information about this category award and full list of winners:
Best Project K-12 Education: Bronx High School of Science - Stanley Manne ’52 Institute of Science | Engineering News-Record (enr.com)
We are thrilled to share that Dattner Architects’ project Bronx High School of Science; Stanley Manne Institute was recognized as ENR (Engineering News- Record) 2023 New York Best Project k-12 Education Project.
Located at the Bronx High School of Science, the Stanley Manne Research Institute is a new state-of-the-art research building named after, and generously funded by, Bronx Science alumnus Stanley Manne. This university-level facility will allow high school students from across the Bronx to conduct long-term experiments, preparing them for college or professional settings.
The building houses three multidisciplinary labs, a walk-in cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room, animal room, and a multi-purpose room for special events. Like a professional lab, spaces are modular and flexible, as equipment and science requirements change over time. Each lab is served by a computational room for group meetings, lectures, and experiment data review.
For more information about this category award and full list of winners:
Best Project K-12 Education: Bronx High School of Science - Stanley Manne ’52 Institute of Science | Engineering News-Record (enr.com)
We are thrilled to share that Dattner Architects’ projects Vital Brookdale and Chestnut Commons projects each won multiple PHIUS Design Competition awards at the PhiusCon 2023, held earlier this week.
Vital Brookdale, an exemplary model of community-based housing plus healthcare, won Best Overall Project and was named the Winner in the Low-Rise Multifamily category. 
Vital Brookdale is the first project in New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, a program designed to improve Central Brooklyn’s low-income residents’ access to health, wellness, and housing. The design and programming of the building sets a new benchmark for high-quality, sustainable, health-focused, affordable housing mixed-use developments. The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) + 2015 certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency.
Chestnut Commons was announced as a winner for High-Rise Multifamily Category.
One of the first developments stemming from the East New York Neighborhood Plan, Chestnut Commons provides affordable housing for formerly homeless and low-income households. 275 affordable housing apartments are supported by an integrated programming package, including communal spaces on the second floor with direct access to a landscaped roof terrace. Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a community center operated by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, a satellite Community College campus, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, and a credit union.
We are thrilled to share that Dattner Architects’ projects Vital Brookdale and Chestnut Commons projects each won multiple PHIUS Design Competition awards at the PhiusCon 2023, held earlier this week.
Vital Brookdale, an exemplary model of community-based housing plus healthcare, won Best Overall Project and was named the Winner in the Low-Rise Multifamily category. 
Vital Brookdale is the first project in New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, a program designed to improve Central Brooklyn’s low-income residents’ access to health, wellness, and housing. The design and programming of the building sets a new benchmark for high-quality, sustainable, health-focused, affordable housing mixed-use developments. The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) + 2015 certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency.
Chestnut Commons was announced as a winner for High-Rise Multifamily Category.
One of the first developments stemming from the East New York Neighborhood Plan, Chestnut Commons provides affordable housing for formerly homeless and low-income households. 275 affordable housing apartments are supported by an integrated programming package, including communal spaces on the second floor with direct access to a landscaped roof terrace. Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a community center operated by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, a satellite Community College campus, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, and a credit union.
Located at the eastern edge of Parkchester, a mid-twentieth-century planned community in the Bronx, comprised of 171 “towers in the park,” Parkchester Gardens is a new development that offers 220 affordable apartments for seniors, 30% of which are dedicated to formerly homeless seniors, embodying a commitment to community and well-being.
On the ground floor, Parkchester Gardens incorporates social services and welfare accessory amenity spaces including a social services and counseling suite with six private offices and a conference room, available to all tenants.
As part of the project’s active design initiative, the development features tiered outdoor terraces to encourage simultaneous physical activities, such as Tai Chi, outdoor cooking, and gardening.
Common amenities include a large community multi-purpose room with space for low-impact physical activities, a lounge and community pantry, and a gathering, living-room-like area—all of which can be combined into a single space for large, building-wide events, or partitioned for various, smaller simultaneous activities and programs. A fitness room offers exercise and weight training equipment, and a computer room affords technical training classes. Additional amenities include laundry rooms on every floor and bike storage in the cellar.
Located at the eastern edge of Parkchester, a mid-twentieth-century planned community in the Bronx, comprised of 171 “towers in the park,” Parkchester Gardens is a new development that offers 220 affordable apartments for seniors, 30% of which are dedicated to formerly homeless seniors, embodying a commitment to community and well-being.
On the ground floor, Parkchester Gardens incorporates social services and welfare accessory amenity spaces including a social services and counseling suite with six private offices and a conference room, available to all tenants.
As part of the project’s active design initiative, the development features tiered outdoor terraces to encourage simultaneous physical activities, such as Tai Chi, outdoor cooking, and gardening.
Common amenities include a large community multi-purpose room with space for low-impact physical activities, a lounge and community pantry, and a gathering, living-room-like area—all of which can be combined into a single space for large, building-wide events, or partitioned for various, smaller simultaneous activities and programs. A fitness room offers exercise and weight training equipment, and a computer room affords technical training classes. Additional amenities include laundry rooms on every floor and bike storage in the cellar.
Chestnut Commons won two awards at the SARA National Design Awards this weekend! The project is the winner of both the Design Excellence Award and the Multi-Family Residential: Affordable Housing, Low Income Housing, Market Rate Housing.
Chestnut Commons is an innovative, sustainable, mixed-use development that provides critically needed affordable housing to over 600 formerly homeless and low-income households. Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a satellite Community College campus, workforce training, and a credit union – all within a Passive House building.
Developed and operated by locally based organizations with strong community ties, the project strengthens the neighborhood with the inclusion of economic development and educational opportunities, arts programming, and job training services.
Chestnut Commons exemplifies an innovative affordable housing model for sustainable development. The project provides not only urgently needed affordable housing, but a deep commitment to environmental equity and community building.
The Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) National Design Awards celebrates excellence in architecture & design.
Chestnut Commons won two awards at the SARA National Design Awards this weekend! The project is the winner of both the Design Excellence Award and the Multi-Family Residential: Affordable Housing, Low Income Housing, Market Rate Housing.
Chestnut Commons is an innovative, sustainable, mixed-use development that provides critically needed affordable housing to over 600 formerly homeless and low-income households. Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a satellite Community College campus, workforce training, and a credit union – all within a Passive House building.
Developed and operated by locally based organizations with strong community ties, the project strengthens the neighborhood with the inclusion of economic development and educational opportunities, arts programming, and job training services.
Chestnut Commons exemplifies an innovative affordable housing model for sustainable development. The project provides not only urgently needed affordable housing, but a deep commitment to environmental equity and community building.
The Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) National Design Awards celebrates excellence in architecture & design.
AIA New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will present a three-part online series on equity and affordability in housing on November 10, November 17, and December 1, 2023.
The panel From the Architect’s View: The Challenges and Opportunities Implementing Sustainability in Housing, will feature Shefali Sanghvi, Director of Sustainability, Dattner Architects. It is being held on Friday, November 17, 10:30am-12:00pm EST.
The panel will examine challenges and opportunities around implementing sustainability in affordable housing covering topics such as how design sustainability should be defined, how we ensure that we, as designers, do not lose aspect of the human scale of our work, and how we are looking forward in our work.
At Dattner Architects, we are dedicated to achieving high levels of urban sustainability and density – pioneering green civic and residential design and helping communities affected by climate change. Our Sustainable Practice Group (SPG) facilitates a positive environmental impact and improves occupant health, equity, and the resilience of Dattner projects through research on energy use, renewable energy, indoor environment and human health, sustainable materials, site ecology, and urban infrastructure.
Join us for insightful discussions on the housing sector in the tri-state region. You can register for entire series or individual programs here:
About - Tri-State Equity and Affordability in Housing Webinar Series (cvent.com)
AIA New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will present a three-part online series on equity and affordability in housing on November 10, November 17, and December 1, 2023.
The panel From the Architect’s View: The Challenges and Opportunities Implementing Sustainability in Housing, will feature Shefali Sanghvi, Director of Sustainability, Dattner Architects. It is being held on Friday, November 17, 10:30am-12:00pm EST.
The panel will examine challenges and opportunities around implementing sustainability in affordable housing covering topics such as how design sustainability should be defined, how we ensure that we, as designers, do not lose aspect of the human scale of our work, and how we are looking forward in our work.
At Dattner Architects, we are dedicated to achieving high levels of urban sustainability and density – pioneering green civic and residential design and helping communities affected by climate change. Our Sustainable Practice Group (SPG) facilitates a positive environmental impact and improves occupant health, equity, and the resilience of Dattner projects through research on energy use, renewable energy, indoor environment and human health, sustainable materials, site ecology, and urban infrastructure.
Join us for insightful discussions on the housing sector in the tri-state region. You can register for entire series or individual programs here:
About - Tri-State Equity and Affordability in Housing Webinar Series (cvent.com)
Chestnut Commons is the 2023 Multi-family/Mixed Use winner of the Metropolis Planet Positive Award! This awards program recognizes design for a regenerative and equitable future. Judged by four expert juries across project types, regions, and product categories, award winners represent “the highest achievements in design that addresses climate change, ecosystem health, human health, and equity.”
Chestnut Commons is an innovative and community-centric Passive House development that provides 275 critically needed affordable apartments to formerly homeless and low-income households in the Cypress Hill section of Brooklyn. This project is part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan and delivers on the commitment to provide meaningful affordable housing that allows residents to stay within their community.
A model for sustainable development through its community-centric approach, and in its Passive House systems and detailing, Chestnut Commons exemplifies an innovative affordable housing model. Projects such as Chestnut Commons provide not only urgently needed affordable housing for those that need it most, but a deep commitment to environmental equity by utilizing a building type that is both highly energy efficient and resilient.
Developed and operated in conjunction with local organizations, Chestnut Commons supports the neighborhood with economic development and educational opportunities, arts programs, and job training services. Programming includes a Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union branch, a café, and a kitchen incubator.
Chestnut Commons is the 2023 Multi-family/Mixed Use winner of the Metropolis Planet Positive Award! This awards program recognizes design for a regenerative and equitable future. Judged by four expert juries across project types, regions, and product categories, award winners represent “the highest achievements in design that addresses climate change, ecosystem health, human health, and equity.”
Chestnut Commons is an innovative and community-centric Passive House development that provides 275 critically needed affordable apartments to formerly homeless and low-income households in the Cypress Hill section of Brooklyn. This project is part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan and delivers on the commitment to provide meaningful affordable housing that allows residents to stay within their community.
A model for sustainable development through its community-centric approach, and in its Passive House systems and detailing, Chestnut Commons exemplifies an innovative affordable housing model. Projects such as Chestnut Commons provide not only urgently needed affordable housing for those that need it most, but a deep commitment to environmental equity by utilizing a building type that is both highly energy efficient and resilient.
Developed and operated in conjunction with local organizations, Chestnut Commons supports the neighborhood with economic development and educational opportunities, arts programs, and job training services. Programming includes a Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union branch, a café, and a kitchen incubator.
Dattner Architects’ Vital Brookdale won the ULI Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing last Thursday night at the Awards Gala. The Urban Land Institute’s New York Awards for Excellence in Development are a highly competitive program that recognizes best in class projects that excel in design, sustainability, and impact.
Vital Brookdale, developed through a public-private partnership sponsored by New York State, was applauded for demonstrating “how targeted interventions through supportive housing can change life trajectories.” The Passive House project includes deeply affordable apartments with a host of amenities, job training and empowerment facilities, and a new healthcare center.
Director of Sustainability and Project Manager, Shefali Sanghvi (right) receiving the award with Catherine Levenson from MDG construction
An exceptional model of affordable, sustainable, community-based housing, Vital Brookdale combines a f health-focused community resources and affordable apartments for the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.
The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency. The project includes a 100kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, a series of green roofs and plantings, and other energy efficient measures to ensure the comfort and affordability for residents as well as sustainability of the building.
Videos of Vital Brookdale and the other 2023 Award winners are available on the ULI New York website:
2023 ULI New York Gala Winners | ULI New York Gala
Dattner Architects’ Vital Brookdale won the ULI Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing last Thursday night at the Awards Gala. The Urban Land Institute’s New York Awards for Excellence in Development are a highly competitive program that recognizes best in class projects that excel in design, sustainability, and impact.
Vital Brookdale, developed through a public-private partnership sponsored by New York State, was applauded for demonstrating “how targeted interventions through supportive housing can change life trajectories.” The Passive House project includes deeply affordable apartments with a host of amenities, job training and empowerment facilities, and a new healthcare center.
Director of Sustainability and Project Manager, Shefali Sanghvi (right) receiving the award with Catherine Levenson from MDG construction
An exceptional model of affordable, sustainable, community-based housing, Vital Brookdale combines a f health-focused community resources and affordable apartments for the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.
The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency. The project includes a 100kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, a series of green roofs and plantings, and other energy efficient measures to ensure the comfort and affordability for residents as well as sustainability of the building.
Videos of Vital Brookdale and the other 2023 Award winners are available on the ULI New York website:
2023 ULI New York Gala Winners | ULI New York Gala
Open House New York (OHNY) is back with its annual citywide celebration of architecture! Offering a unique opportunity to experience New York City and the built environment, Dattner Architects will participate in this year’s OHNY Weekend with in-person tours at projects on Saturday, October 21, Chestnut Commons and Sunday, October 22, Broome Street Development.
Chestnut Commons
Located on an underused public land bounded by Dinsmore Place, Chestnut Street, and Atlantic Avenue, Chestnut Commons provides 275 affordable housing units to formerly homeless, extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households. This project is part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan, released in 2016 as part of the East New York new neighborhood rezoning, outlining a commitment to expedite the construction of deeply affordable housing.
This new 14-story development offers a variety of uses contributing to a self-sustaining community with activities that support, enhance, and stimulate the surrounding community. The residential portion of the building integrates programming throughout, including communal spaces on the second floor with direct access to a landscaped roof terrace for residents, extending indoor activities to the outdoors. A large portion of the 14th floor roof is a gardening area with raised planting beds to create opportunities for active planting and vegetable cultivation.
Broome Street Development
Our recently completed Suffolk and Norfolk buildings are located just South of the Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side. The 460,000 square foot mixed-use development encompasses a diverse mix of market-rate, affordable and senior housing, as well as a community facility, retail space and the headquarters for a well-known neighborhood social services organization.
The building covers most of the city block, fronting multiple streets. It incorporates a combination of different building heights, window proportions and careful brick detailing that relate to the mix of scales that characterize this vibrant and ever-changing neighborhood.
We can’t wait to celebrate OHNY Weekend with all of you. See you on October 21-22!
Open House New York (OHNY) is back with its annual citywide celebration of architecture! Offering a unique opportunity to experience New York City and the built environment, Dattner Architects will participate in this year’s OHNY Weekend with in-person tours at projects on Saturday, October 21, Chestnut Commons and Sunday, October 22, Broome Street Development.
Chestnut Commons
Located on an underused public land bounded by Dinsmore Place, Chestnut Street, and Atlantic Avenue, Chestnut Commons provides 275 affordable housing units to formerly homeless, extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households. This project is part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan, released in 2016 as part of the East New York new neighborhood rezoning, outlining a commitment to expedite the construction of deeply affordable housing.
This new 14-story development offers a variety of uses contributing to a self-sustaining community with activities that support, enhance, and stimulate the surrounding community. The residential portion of the building integrates programming throughout, including communal spaces on the second floor with direct access to a landscaped roof terrace for residents, extending indoor activities to the outdoors. A large portion of the 14th floor roof is a gardening area with raised planting beds to create opportunities for active planting and vegetable cultivation.
Broome Street Development
Our recently completed Suffolk and Norfolk buildings are located just South of the Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side. The 460,000 square foot mixed-use development encompasses a diverse mix of market-rate, affordable and senior housing, as well as a community facility, retail space and the headquarters for a well-known neighborhood social services organization.
The building covers most of the city block, fronting multiple streets. It incorporates a combination of different building heights, window proportions and careful brick detailing that relate to the mix of scales that characterize this vibrant and ever-changing neighborhood.
We can’t wait to celebrate OHNY Weekend with all of you. See you on October 21-22!
Dattner Architects' Brandon Wang and Pascale Baladi were invited and engaged participants at the inaugural METROPOLIS Arch 30 program, which recognizes the next generation of leadership in architecture. Collaborating with leading design firms in select cities, METROPOLIS identifies top talent under the age of 30 that share a commitment to sustainability and knowledge sharing. Each group meets for a workshop led by the magazine's editors, followed by networking opportunities with program partners.
Avi Rajagopal, editor in chief, and Verda Alexander, editor at large, were workshop facilitators. They "encouraged the young leaders in architecture to think about the challenges they face at work, how to find the support they need, and how to identify and pursue purposeful work." Pascale and Brandon found the evening energizing and the interactive experience connecting with peers, exchanging insights, and sharing thoughts about leadership, sustainability, and architecture practices at their respective workplaces incredibly valuable.
“It is an honor to have been nominated for METROPOLIS' inaugural Arch30 Event and to have the chance to connect with many like-minded young professionals who are eager to learn and push the industry forward with ambition, innovation, and camaraderie. I came out of it feeling empowered to be part of such a capable generation of architects, who simultaneously have become a peer support network.” – Pascale Baladi
Read more:
METROPOLIS Honors its First Arch30 Cohort in New York - Metropolis (metropolismag.com)
Dattner Architects' Brandon Wang and Pascale Baladi were invited and engaged participants at the inaugural METROPOLIS Arch 30 program, which recognizes the next generation of leadership in architecture. Collaborating with leading design firms in select cities, METROPOLIS identifies top talent under the age of 30 that share a commitment to sustainability and knowledge sharing. Each group meets for a workshop led by the magazine's editors, followed by networking opportunities with program partners.
Avi Rajagopal, editor in chief, and Verda Alexander, editor at large, were workshop facilitators. They "encouraged the young leaders in architecture to think about the challenges they face at work, how to find the support they need, and how to identify and pursue purposeful work." Pascale and Brandon found the evening energizing and the interactive experience connecting with peers, exchanging insights, and sharing thoughts about leadership, sustainability, and architecture practices at their respective workplaces incredibly valuable.
“It is an honor to have been nominated for METROPOLIS' inaugural Arch30 Event and to have the chance to connect with many like-minded young professionals who are eager to learn and push the industry forward with ambition, innovation, and camaraderie. I came out of it feeling empowered to be part of such a capable generation of architects, who simultaneously have become a peer support network.” – Pascale Baladi
Read more:
METROPOLIS Honors its First Arch30 Cohort in New York - Metropolis (metropolismag.com)
Dattner Architects is a women-owned design firm. This is a milestone for our practice, which was founded 60 years ago. Our long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion has organically fostered women to thrive and achieve at the highest level of leadership. Today the firm is led by 10 partners, half of whom are women; and the women are the majority owners. We are a firm that continues to evolve and advance.
Our core mission is unwavering, and it unites our work and our practice. We proudly take on the planning and design of the region’s most essential projects, creating architecture that enriches the urban experience, transforms environments, and strengthens communities.
Today Dattner Architects is over 100 people, 59% of whom are women, 41% BIPOC, and 17% LGBTQ+ all working together from one office in New York City. A steadfast dedication to our mission, a strong and varied portfolio of that spans sectors, and a thoughtful leadership transition plan allows our 60-year-old practice to continue to remain vital and vibrant—reflecting the diversity and relevancy of our practice.
"Driven to work at the urban scale, I initially sought out Dattner Architects because the firm had designed many of the civic spaces that were formative in my life," notes Gia Maneiro, Principal and Corporate President. "This passion fueled my career here—from junior designer to Principal—supported by the confidence, camaraderie and mentorship that defines the culture of the office. Raising my daughter solidified my commitment to leadership in the future of sustainable public architecture, and I could not be more proud to share in a majority women owned partnership that embodies these values."
Dattner Architects is certified as a WBE with New York City, New York State, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York City School Construction Authority, and the City of Philadelphia.
Wei Wang has been invited as a panelist for an upcoming AIA Brooklyn Panel on Sustainable and Circular Construction. A part of the organization's "Towards a Sustainable Architecture" series, the
discussion will explore approaches to designing buildings and urban environments in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes the reuse of materials. The panelists will discuss sustainable approaches to manufacturing and sourcing of materials, cleaner construction methods, clean energy solutions, and the deconstructability of buildings with an eye toward recycling of building materials.
Wei will be joined by two other panelists: Sylvie Binder, Policy Advisor at the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and Felix Heisel, Director of the Circular Construction Lab at Cornell.
Circularity is a topic that Wei is actively engaged with as a practitioner and researcher. She recently participated in a Metropolis Magazine hackathon on a similar topic, the result of which was published last month: 7 Proposals for a Circular Built Environment.
Tickets are available, preregistration is required.
We congratulate Jeffrey (Jeff) Dugan FAIA on his retirement!
After more than 25 years with Dattner Architects, Jeff leaves us with a legacy of community infrastructure projects that have shaped the city. His commitment to elevating the civic realm, advancing community, and creating connections among all elements of urban life found its primary expression in the planning and design of public transportation facilities, including two of the city’s busiest: the 59 St-Columbus Circle Station and the Myrtle-Wyckoff Station. He brought the same attention to the design of public schools such as the New Settlement Community Campus and the Charles F. Murphy Early Childhood Development Center.
Other notable projects include the Bishop Rene Valero Senior Residence, the NYPD 116th Precinct, and the Newark Airport Terminal B Redevelopment. Jeff’s projects have received numerous awards from AIA Chapters and Components, SARA state and national, and the ACEC, recognizing excellence in precedent-setting architectural design and engineering. Each project demonstrates his keen understanding of how people move through space, how architecture affects mood and behavior, and how the relationship between a project and its environment can create, enhance, or spark the development of community.
In his role as co-chair of AIANY’s Transportation + Infrastructure Committee (2012–2022), he worked tirelessly to create opportunities for his colleagues and an international cohort of professionals in allied disciplines to share knowledge and explore case studies in New York City and abroad. Under his leadership, the Committee grew in size and influence, as his fellow architects came to share his conviction that the civic realm, community infrastructure, and, in particular, mass transit are worthy of their design talents.
In a management role and as Treasurer at Dattner Architects, Jeff collaborated with the Partnership to successfully grow the firm, seeing it triple in size over the past 25 years. He was a strong advocate for the transition of leadership to the next generation, including the firm’s evolution to a majority women-owned business.
Jeff has shared his insatiable curiosity, deep respect for community, and commitment to a collaborative process with all of us. His legacy will continue through the firm, its projects, and the generations he mentored. We wish him all the best in his retirement, which begins on January 1st.
Dattner Architects is thrilled to be the Architect for the team selected to design and build the new AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport. This prestigious project, awarded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey last week, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing redevelopment of one of the nation's busiest airports. The new AirTrain system will replace the existing, outdated system with a state-of-the-art, 2.5-mile elevated rail structure and three new stations. This project is a critical component of the Port Authority's vision to transform Newark Liberty International Airport into a world-class transportation hub. Working within the Tutor Perini/O&G Design/Build team and with Lead Engineer Parsons Corporation, Dattner Architects is excited to continue the collaboration that led to the winning proposal.
Dattner Architects' involvement in this project underscores our leadership in the field of transportation architecture and our commitment to creating innovative, resilient, and sustainable public infrastructure solutions.
Read more about this $1.184 Billion Design-Build project:
https://www.panynj.gov/port-authority/en/press-room/press-release-archives/2022-press-releases1/port-authority-signs–1-24-billion-contract-to-design-and-build-.html
Dattner Architects is proud to recognize the exceptional contributions of six distinguished professionals with promotions to new levels of leadership.
In recognition of their outstanding leadership and deep-seated passion for enriching urban environments with projects that respond to the needs of our time, Harriet Andronikides has been promoted to Associate. Heather McKinstry and Rem Bruhn are now Senior Associates. Patrick McAffrey, Shefali Sanghvi and Philippe Martelly have been elevated to Associate Principal. These advancements reflect the dedication, commitment to sustainable and innovative civic architecture, and the high level of professionalism these architects bring to our firm.
“Each of these professionals has excelled in remarkable and individual ways. They all successfully lead complex projects with ease and joy, while providing opportunities for others to shine. We are pleased to be able to recognize their achievements and their commitment with these promotions, and we are excited about their evolved role in the leadership of our firm.”—Kirsten Sibilia, Managing Principal.
Harriet Andronikides, AIA, Associate has worked on a variety of project types, including parks, multi-family residential, and performing arts venues. She strives for clear and meaningful communication through all phases of a project, and particularly enjoys the Construction Administration phase where she can see the building come to life. As a New Yorker, Harriet has an endless fascination for the built environment and the inner workings of the city.
“When I joined Dattner Architects, I saw that I had the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on my home city and community. I knew that this firm was a special place where I could achieve that.”—Harriet
Heather McKinstry, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC, Studio Director, Senior Associate believes that architecture’s most important role is to create inclusive, healthy, and sustainable environments for our communities, helping to build a more equitable world. After completing her thesis on disaster relief housing, her commitment to environmentalism and community focused urbanism led her to work creating spaces for all New Yorkers while minimizing the environmental impact of new buildings.
“I'm so proud of how this office has evolved since I started. I was hired to work on the design of 425 Grand Concourse, our first Passive House project, and now we have become passive house experts with many of our housing projects in design aiming for that standard. I'm also thrilled by the progress the office has made to become a women owned business.”—Heather
Rem Bruhn, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate joined Dattner Architects in 2015, eager to work in a mission-driven firm, designing projects positively influence people’s daily lives. He enjoys working with diverse stakeholder groups, and he takes pride in developing a concept that is carefully considered, from the macroscopic down to the smallest details. With each project he seeks to contribute to the sustainable evolution of our cities.
“When I joined Dattner Architects, I was drawn in by the firm’s mission, and the work we do to make New York City a better place to live for everyone, from affordable housing, to infrastructure, to schools and libraries, and so much more—and I was proud to go home and tell people where I worked and the type of work we did. Nine years later, this is as true as ever: as we grow and evolve, I’m still very proud of our work, and grateful for the brilliant and dedicated people that I work with.”—Rem
Patrick McAffrey, AIA, Studio Director, Associate Principal joined the firm as an emerging architect today leads our largest studio. He’s continued to grow with each challenge and excels at every opportunity. Formally trained in both architecture and product design, Patrick’s passion for intelligent urbanism has led him to focus his work on infrastructure and transportation projects, which he believes have profound impact on the building fabric and urban lifestyles they support.
“I am proud of the work we do as a firm, continuing to contribute to the built fabric of New York in a meaningful and civic way. Specifically, in our transportation and infrastructure studio, I have always found it fulfilling to be able to observe how appreciated and used our work is in the public realm. Looking back on my time here, I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given to work with so many talented individuals and the thoughtful mentorship provided by this firm. I am humbled and excited to be a part of this leadership group as we enter a new chapter as a women-owned business.”—Patrick
Shefali Sanghvi, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Amb., ENV SP, Director of Sustainability, Associate Principal has over 15 years of experience working in sustainable projects, with an emphasis on resiliency, occupant health and comfort, and energy efficiency. An expert on urban Passive House projects, she is dedicated to designing buildings that are socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. As the firm’s Director of Sustainability, Shefali serves as a thought leader across Dattner Architects’ studios, and beyond, championing sustainability as integral to architecture. She is a person who identifies opportunities to do things better—and puts in the work to develop a system to make it happen. Like each of the folks being promoted, Shefali is always looking out for the firm.
“Dattner Architects’ Sustainable Practice Group gave me a platform to research issues that I felt really passionate about and talk about them with people who felt the same drive to change the way we design our communities. The reality is that every time we do what we do, we have one chance to do it right, to lessen its impact on the planet. Every time we build a project, it is important that we build the most sustainable version of our project that we can. Dattner Architects provides the opportunity for us to do that, together.”—Shefali
With in-depth expertise managing large, multifaceted projects, Philippe Martelly, AIA, CPHC, Studio Director, Associate Principal is deeply invested in understanding the human experience and social impact of healthy, sustainable, and well-conceived affordable housing. Philippe has not only excelled as a project manager, studio director, mentor and coach but also used his skills for business development—cultivating new and existing clients to bring in new projects. He represents the firm on the board of the prestigious CHPC (Citizens Housing & Planning Council).
“I’ve always believed that Civic Architecture is about giving back, and practicing Architecture in service to society is a beautiful endeavor. It is a complex and difficult job, and we at Dattner Architects are among the privileged few in this society who can actually do it so well. The populations that our projects continue to serve are counting on all of us to get it right. They deserve our very best. They deserve that bright spark of ours that we let shine here each and every day. And our tremendous collective expertise and profound social consciousness places us in a position to give them our best. Our Firm is a very special place, and I am very proud of what we’re doing here. We operate successfully in one of the greatest Cities in the World, and the civic impact of our work extends beyond its borders, across generations, and beyond our own personal timelines.”—Philippe
Dattner Architects Principal John Woelfling and Director of Sustainability Shefali Sanghvi presented "One Architecture Firm's Journey to Passive House Expertise" at this year's Greenbuild Conference in Philadelphia.
In 2016, Dattner Architects set out to explore the feasibility of integrating Passive House design with multi-family affordable housing. Over the next few years, the firm successfully designed and built four Phius-certified Passive House buildings, delivering nearly 1,000 affordable apartments. This work demonstrated that sustainability, good design, and affordability could coexist in multi-family housing.
Their presentation highlighted how these achievements have shaped sustainable practices in Dattner's Housing studio and offered insights that can be applied by other practitioners and in future Dattner projects.
Greenbuild Conference
Lecture: One Architecture Firm’s Journey to Passive House Expertise
Date: November 14, 2024
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 pm (EST)
Dattner Architects-designed 425 Grand Concourse & the Five Principles of Passive House.
425 Grand Concourse, a 26-story, mixed-use, mixed-income building is a recipient of the Urban Land Institute’s 2024 Terwilliger Center Award for Innovation in Attainable Housing.
Located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, 425 Grand Concourse was the largest PHIUS Passive House-certified multifamily development in North America at certification. This project addresses New York City’s critical need for affordable housing within a high-quality development that provides community resources and promotes street activity.
The tower provides 277 affordable housing units, and the two-story base includes a medical facility, supermarket, community spaces, and a community college student services center—each also designed by Dattner Architects.
Developed by Trinity Financial and MBD Community Housing Corporation, this benchmark sustainable project consumes 70% less energy than a conventional housing project. It provides a model for healthy living environments in a district with one of the worst childhood asthma rates in the country. Active ventilation brings filtered fresh air to all apartment bedrooms and living rooms, keeping a constant flow of clean air without pollutants, pollen, or respiratory virus particles, increasing interior comfort and air quality. Continuous insulation at the façade, lack of thermal breaks, and high-quality windows mean the building stays temperate.
The building also offers residents a wide variety of amenities including a recreation room, two landscaped roof terraces, a lounge space and fitness room, laundry rooms, and bike storage.
View the full list of winners here.
Dattner Architects’ Principal Ruth Ro will be presenting at the AIA Tri-State Fusion Conference 2024. She will be leading a session titled “Trail Blazing: Becoming a Women-Owned Practice” alongside Patricia Harris, legal counsel from Zetlin & De Chiara LLP on November 20th.
This presentation will explore Dattner Architects’ transformative journey to becoming a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) after six decades of practice. The discussion will delve into the firm’s history, practice, and culture which have organically fostered women to achieve the highest level of leadership. Ruth will also talk about the firm’s long-standing commitment to equity and inclusion of historically underrepresented designers including LGBTQIA+ individuals, people of color, and working parents, focusing on how these strategies have shaped our culture and operations.
Patricia will address the legal and structural adjustments required for WBE certification, shedding light on potential challenges and how to set a firm up for success in this transition.
Register to gain insights into evolving landscape for women in architecture, and discover the steps to become a WBE, including governance, certification, and leadership transition strategies. We hope to inspire others to build a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
We are honored to announce that The Architect’s Newspaper has selected Dattner Architects for the 2024 Best of Practice Award (XL Firm – Northeast). AN's Best of Practice program seeks to define an expansive meaning of excellence that not only considers the firm’s individual projects, values and culture but also inclusivity, social impact, sustainability, regional relevance, and technological innovation. This recognition highlights our commitment to addressing the complex challenges faced by the architecture industry today and acknowledges the collective efforts of our team.
As a mission-driven, women-owned design firm, we design impactful architecture that responds to the issues of our time. We have proudly taken on the planning and design of the region’s most essential projects, creating architecture that enriches the urban experience, transforms environments, and strengthens communities. Our approach involves integrating sustainable practices and prioritizing projects that serve the broader community, reflecting our dedication to inclusivity and social responsibility.
Dattner Architects has long fostered equity and inclusion, and we have championed employee professional growth and recognition. Our commitment to diversity includes a team of over 100 people, 59% women, 41% BIPOC, and 17% LGBTQ+.
Our innovative buildings have enriched NYC's urban fabric, positively impacting countless New Yorkers. We are humbled to see the warmth, appreciation, and life brought to our projects by those who inhabit, recreate, learn, and work in these buildings.
[caption id="attachment_21452" align="alignleft" width="2000"] Architectural League First Friday at Dattner Architects 2024[/caption]
View the full list of winners:
https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/announcing-the-winners-of-ans-2024-best-of-practice-awards/
Currently on view at the Center for Architecture in Manhattan, Built by New York celebrates the design work of AIA New York, AIA Brooklyn, AIA Bronx, AIA Staten Island, and AIA Queens members. The show spans three levels and represents the vibrancy of the New York City design community’s work.
Dattner Architects is proud to have four award-winning projects included in the show: Alafia, a large master plan and phased development on East New York pioneering Heath & Wellness in Affordable Housing; Stanley Manne Institute, a new privately-funded research grade lab building for public high school students; Manhattan Districts 1/2/5 Garage and Spring Street Salt Shed, recognized as the quintessential representation of design excellence in public architecture this project is now an archi-tourism destination, the 34th St-Hudson Yards Subway Station which catalyzed the development of a new neighborhood, and 425 Grand Concourse, an innovative high-rise mixed use Passive House building featured as a 2024 Archtober Building of the Day.
The show runs through April 5, 2025 and is open to the public.
In the second installment of our Sustainability in Architecture series, "Sustainability in Architecture: Alafia," we sat down with the project team of the Alafia Masterplan to reflect on how this robust, sustainable community came to fruition.
Kicking off the video, we spoke with Principal-in-Charge Daniel Heuberger to reflect on the journey behind the Alafia Master Plan and how this transformative, sustainable community took shape. Daniel shared valuable insights into the design of the master plan and the collaborative efforts that brought together public, private, and nonprofit partners.
Part two features Project Manager Jen Switala discussing the sustainable elements integrated into the design of Phase 1 and lessons learned through the design of buildings C1/C2, C3, and the Maintenance Hub facility.
In the final segment, we went on site with Senior Architect Deniz Secilmis, who guided us through the process of building one of North America's largest PHI-certified Passive House projects. Deniz shared the unique challenges of constructing a project of this scale and explored how these experiences can inform future Passive House developments.
Alafia is a new wellness-oriented resilient development designed to address a historically underserved area's chronic social, economic, and health disparities. As part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn initiative, Dattner Architects designed a master plan that outlines the phased redevelopment of a 25+acre decommissioned public site and is now designing the first buildings.
Watch the full video here.
Dattner Architect's Managing Principal Kirsten Sibilia, Principal Ruth Ro, and Business Development Manager Jessica Soares presented at the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in Chicago from October 8-10!
They led a presentation and panel discussion titled “How Dattner Architects Transitioned to a Certified Women-Owned Business”, along with our legal counsel Patricia Harris of Zetlin & De Chiara LLP.
The session provided an in-depth look at our firm’s journey to WBE certification and the steps we’ve taken to foster an equitable, inclusive workplace. It also sparked thoughtful discussions on the importance of building the pipeline for women to rise to leadership roles.
We were excited to share our experiences and inspire other firms to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values.
Dattner Architects’ Associate Principal Rachel Ehrlich will join the Zak World of Façades NYC conference to discuss Creative Design Solutions in affordable housing projects. The panel discussion will explore the critical role of the building envelope in affordable housing—examining how budget constraints shape architectural decisions, from material selection to design configurations, and how these choices can affect the overall success of a development. Moderated by Brian Loughlin, other leaders on the panel include Carla Swickerath, Dylan Baker‑Rice and Sara Tsiropinas who will be speaking about their experience and projects relevant to facades construction.
Rachel specializes in affordable, supportive, and senior housing and is passionate about creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods that promote social equity by providing well-designed, sustainable homes for people of all income levels. During the panel, she will present Santaella Gardens project as a case study. For more info on the 249-unit mixed-used Passive House development, see this link.
The high-performance envelope offers enhanced thermal comfort and acoustic shielding from train and highway noise, while lowering heating and cooling costs for energy-burdened residents.
The high-performance envelope offers enhanced thermal comfort and acoustic shielding from train and highway noise, while lowering heating and cooling costs for
energy-burdened residents.
For more information and to register for the event, visit this link.
Dattner Architects has been awarded a $15.5 million contract for the renovation of the Coburn Gore Land Port of Entry. This work is part of a broader $85 million project by U.S. General Services Administration to upgrade the facility. Originally built in 1932, the construction on the new port is set to begin in the fall of 2026.
The project includes a preliminary phase to determine replacement and/or renovation of existing port facilities and site infrastructure. Based on the findings from the study, the facility will be expanded and modernized while preserving the historic main port building and port facility housing.
This new facility, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enhance supply chain resilience, improve operational capabilities and infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, and strengthen national security.
The project will establish a fully operational Land Port of Entry (LPOE) that seamlessly aligns with the traffic flow and operations of the Canadian port at Saint-Augustin-de-Woburn, Quebec. The new port will be designed to be functional, accessible, and equitable, enabling Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to carry out its mission more effectively and improve its interactions with the public. Additionally, the facility will incorporate sustainable features to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, minimize environmental impact, and increase the federal government's resilience to climate change.
Read Articles Below:
Maine’s Coburn Gore Border Port Set for $85M Expansion | Transport Topics (ttnews.com)
Feds award nearly $15.5 million contract for new Coburn Gore Township border station (sunjournal.com)
Principal Catherine Selby was a featured speaker on a panel that delved into the burgeoning trend of Office-to-Resi conversions in NYC. The insightful session explored the design opportunities and challenges that arise from transforming outdated office spaces into modern residential units. Panelists included Christopher Okada (Okada & Company), James Nelson (Adison Young) and the discussion was moderated by Gerry Rothbart (Porcelanosa). Catherine discussed innovative solutions that maximize natural light, optimize floor plans, and incorporate sustainable materials to create desirable living environments.
The conversation also addressed the regulatory challenges that often accompany such conversions, including zoning and building code – as well as added complexities when converting to affordable housing. Catherine and her fellow panelists challenged the audience to bring their creativity and knowledge of NYC real estate to the complexities of adaptive reuse projects to push for these conversions to alleviate the city's housing shortage while revitalizing neighborhoods.
Earlier this month, we hosted our first annual Friends and Family Day at Dattner Architects, welcoming guests to an afternoon filled with creativity and fun at our office. People brought along their children, partners, parents, friends, and roommates to our office.
We organized a variety of engaging activities for all ages, including crafting with compostable materials, a model shop demonstration, coloring pages featuring our projects, and more!
The children enjoyed putting on construction gear, feeling like architects for a day, and learning to use tools. Parents and friends were impressed by the work displayed throughout the office and were curious to learn more about the ongoing projects.
A highlight of the afternoon was the "Ask the Architects" panel, where Dattner panelists answered an array of questions—from "How do you make buildings?" to "What is the largest project Dattner Architects has ever built?"
The day concluded with an exciting tower-building competition, bringing out the creativity and spirit of all who participated.
Earlier this month at the SARA NY Design Awards Gala, the Stanley Manne Research Institute at Bronx High School of Science received the Design Award of Merit.
The institute is a state-of-the-art facility providing Bronx high school students the chance to conduct advanced experiments, preparing them for higher education or professional careers.
The project features three multidisciplinary labs, specialized rooms for various scientific needs, and a flexible design to accommodate evolving research requirements. It also provides summer programs, faculty mentorship, and advanced research opportunities in Microbiology, Animal Behavior, and Genetics for Bronx Science and other local public high school students.
Despite its modest size, the research center is a prominent addition to the school campus, complementing the main building and completing the student courtyard. It features a unique design with varying façade proportions and roof screening, giving it a distinct visual appeal from all sides.
Powered entirely by electricity from renewable sources, the building’s sophisticated scientific infrastructure is complemented by its sustainable design. It is expected to have an Energy Use Intensity 70% lower than typical laboratories and achieve a 10% energy savings over the NYC Energy Code baseline.
It was wonderful to celebrate with all the winners – congratulations to everyone
https://www.sarany.org/2024-design-awards
Broome Street Development is listed as one of 10 projects that provide attractive, affordable, compact urban living in Urban Land’s recent article.
Located just South of the Essex Crossing / Seward Park Urban Renewal in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, the project was developed by Gotham Organization and includes a 30-story mixed-use building, The Suffolk, and the 17-story Norfolk Building.
Designed by Dattner Architects and JG Neukomm Architecture, this 460,000 square foot mixed-use development encompasses a diverse mix of market-rate, affordable and senior housing, as well as a community facility and retail space.
The Suffolk Building includes a residential tower and a podium designed to complement the scale of a rapidly growing commercial street. It accommodates the new headquarters of the Chinese American Planning Council, offers small retail spaces, residential amenities, and also includes 33 compact "micro units" named “Abode” by Gotham. The micro units form a community centered around a shared suite of amenities for collective entertaining, working and recreation.
Breaking from a typical boxy layout, these nested studio spaces use a subtle offset in the plan to provide visual complexity, and a sense of privacy and space. The offset hides the front door from the living space, and floor to ceiling glass expands the interior outwards. A diagonal view from the main living area to the kitchen area and dining nook add a sense of spaciousness that exceeds actual dimensions of the unit.
These apartments come equipped with a cleverly designed murphy bed/storage unit that folds up and transforms into a couch and bookshelves when not in use. By increasing a building’s density with smaller yet livable spaces, micro-units may serve as one of several measures that can relieve the chronic housing shortages and high cost of living that affect so many cities.
Read full article:
UL10: Micro-Housing - Urban Land Magazine (uli.org)
Dattner Architects’ Principal Gia Mainiero moderated the Professional Women in Construction Design-Build Panel on April 30th. Gia worked with her fellow Event Co-chairs to bring together industry leaders with deep expertise in Design-Build delivery for an energetic and informative discussion with the PWC community.
[caption id="attachment_21411" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Panelists (left to right): Andrew Pearl - Swinerton; Jayne Czik, DBIA - Citnalta Construction Corp.; Jade Bailey, P.E., PMP, Assoc. DBIA - NYC Department of Design and Construction; Lisa Washington, CAE - Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA)[/caption]
Design-Build delivery has expanded across the country in the last 30 years and currently accounts for over 40% of Construction spending. The panel discussed best practices and the benefits of education; the mindset and cultural shift required for full team collaboration; transparency in cost, schedule, and risk allocation; and Design Excellence as a part of the best value approach. Panelists looked forward to the future of the delivery model in New York, touching on advocacy, education, and a feedback loop for continuous improvement.
Under Gia's leadership, Dattner Architects' portfolio of Design-Build projects is rapidly growing as our clients transition to this collaborative delivery approach. Currently Dattner Architects is the Architect on the team for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $1.24 billion contract to design and build John F. Kennedy International Airport’s Central Terminal Area Roadways, Utilities and Ground Transportation Center (GTC) in Queens, New York. In addition, Dattner Architects is also the Architect for two ongoing design-build projects: the MTA C&D – Package 5 ADA Station Upgrades, which aims to make five stations in New York City accessible, as well as the renovation, restoration, and accessibility improvements at Brooklyn’s Historic Borough Hall Station.
A champion for design innovation and collaboration in Civic Architecture, Gia is a Board Member of PWC's New York Chapter, a member of DBIA, and serves on the DBIA National Design Professionals and Contracts Committees, as well as the DBIA Design Professionals' Advisory & Engagement Committee.
Crain’s New York has recognized Dattner Architects’ Director of Sustainability Shefali Sanghvi as a leading voice in sustainability. At this key time in which the effects of climate change have become more apparent and exigent, Shefali understands architects and engineers have a unique responsibility to minimize the impact buildings have on our environment. As one of the Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability, Shefali is included in a select group of professionals redefining corporate commitments by overseeing decarbonization policy, designing environmentally conscious housing, heading sustainable investing and more.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a Leader in Sustainability with such a distinguished class, many of whom are familiar faces. The cross section of honorees strongly demonstrates that the commitment to addressing this climate emergency we're all facing is an all-hands-on-deck situation. It is a multi-disciplinary effort that takes the collective effort of smart, passionate people–and it nice to see us all being recognized in this way.” – Shefali Sanghvi AIA, LEED AP BD+C, ENV SP, Fitwel Amb.
Shefali has over 18 years of experience working on sustainable projects, with an emphasis on resiliency, occupant health and comfort, and energy efficiency. As Director of Sustainability, Shefali serves as a thought leader within Dattner Architects, and beyond, championing sustainability as integral to architecture. An expert on urban Passive House projects, she is dedicated to designing housing projects that are socially, environmentally, and financially sustainable. She helps to establish the direction of Dattner Architects’ research and lead the exploration and application of sustainability in-house by facilitating knowledge sharing amongst project teams of all different typologies, firm leadership, and Dattner Architects’ professional development groups.
Read her full profile on Crains New York
Recently completed, 300 Huntington Street is a mixed-use, ground-up commercial development in Red Hook, Brooklyn at the southern end of the Gowanus Canal. Dattner Architects designed the project in collaboration with Bernheimer Architects and SCAPE Landscape Architecture for Monadnock Development, who will be the anchor tenant. Hazel Village, a handmade toy manufacturer, will have workshop and showroom space in the building. Retail space opens to the shore public walkway, anchoring the canal frontage.
300 Huntington provides a privately-owned, publicly accessible esplanade on its property, a gateway to the mile-long shore public walkway planned for the Gowanus Canal. Tenants will also have access to shared terrace space and the recently completed waterfront park.
Read more about how the building fits into the Gowanus Canal Remediation efforts:
https://www.aiany.org/membership/oculus-magazine/article/winter-2024/the-gowanus-canal-booming-test-bed-for-climate-change-adaptation/
The design incorporates sustainable and resilient design features that conserve resources and reduce costs. The building’s green roof has integrated vegetation that absorbs rainwater and provides other conducive elements to endorse and practice sustainability principles. Additionally, the property will include absorptive tree plantings using structural soil and a lifted grove.
Dattner Architects' Sustainable Practice Group (SPG) is a volunteer group that facilitates a positive environmental impact and improves occupant health, equity, and the resilience of the projects we touch through research on energy use, renewable energy, indoor environment and human health, sustainable materials, site ecology, and urban infrastructure. The Materials sub-committee within Dattner Architects' Sustainable Practice Group has invested several years in an in-depth exploration of Mass Timber, examining key aspects such as harvesting, processing, manufacturing, and life cycle analysis.
This research is shared publicly through a series of white papers called Sustainable Practices, and our Mass Timber research is our inaugural issue. The goal of the research is not only to understand the sustainability of Mass Timber throughout its life cycle but also to challenge preconceptions surrounding environmentally friendly materials. This report reflects our dedication to critically assessing the notion of material sustainability within our practice and navigating the complexities of incorporating Mass Timber into our projects.
Mass Timber offers a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials. Local regulatory limitations are expected to change in coming years as more Mass Timber projects come on line. Rigor and transparency is required when calculating and communicating carbon sequestration data, life cycle impact, and construction advantages. As architects advocate for low-carbon design solutions that account for future adaptability, innovative disassembly strategies, and prolonged material life spans, Mass Timber’s merits deserve continued research.
Drawing from insights gathered from peers, consultants, and clients, our research enriches our understanding of both the material itself and the practical considerations involved in its implementation.
View full Report
The New York City Economic Development Corporation has selected the team of Ennead + Dattner for the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay project.
SPARC Kips Bay will be a first-of-its-kind job and education center in the heart of New York City that in total will include up to two million square feet for educational programs, workforce development, and job opportunities in the life sciences, public health, and healthcare sectors. It will transform Hunter College’s Brookdale Campus into a state-of-the-art academic, healthcare, and life sciences hub that will provide myriad benefits to the city, including billions of dollars in economic impact, improvements to the public realm, and a pipeline from local public schools and city universities into these growing fields.
The team will design a new 700,000 GSF education building which will be shared by three integrated CUNY schools – Hunter College School of Nursing, CUNY Graduate School of Health & Health Policy, and Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) – and a new NYC Public Schools (NYCPS) health and science career-focused high school. The project also includes a large public open space, a new pedestrian bridge across the FDR to access the waterfront, and the continuation of floodproofing infrastructure along the East Side.
Ennead and Dattner Architects are thrilled to bring our years of experience working in NYC, our expertise in resiliency and sustainability, and our deep commitment to community and public space to help design this innovative new development to shape the city’s future. We look forward to sharing more updates soon.
In March 2024 project features, Metropolis Magazine highlighted Chestnut Commons as a case study in successful passive house design for an affordable, mixed-use development.
Chestnut Commons is one of Dattner Architects’ recently completed projects that not only follows passive house principles but also provides housing to the formerly homeless and low-income individuals. In addition to the housing, the project integrates a Community Center in the base of the building, which includes a satellite campus for CUNY Kingsborough Community College, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, a social services center run by the Cypress Hills Local Development Corp, and a Brooklyn Federal Credit Union branch.
Sustainability and affordability are issues often dealt with separately—while in case of Chestnut Commons, the intent was to build a project that not only houses people in need but also works toward creating true affordability for the residents. Viewed through a broadened lens of environmental equity and recognizing that utility bills are one of the largest burdens on a household’s income, the Passive House design strategy significantly lowers the cooling and heating loads on the building – providing a direct synthesis of affordability and sustainability.
To read the full article:
https://metropolismag.com/projects/this-brooklyn-multifamily-community-is-sustainable-and-affordable/
In recognition of outstanding accomplishments and architectural excellence, annually the American Institute of Architects (AIA) appoints distinguished members to join the College of Fellows. Only 3% of AIA members attained this distinction.
Dattner Architects is delighted to announce that Principal John Woelfling FAIA has been chosen to join this year's cohort of AIA Fellows! Out of 96 candidates who were elevated by AIA National, John is one of the 10 members from the AIA New York chapter. John was recognized for his remarkable contributions to the advancement of the architectural profession through his commitment to innovative sustainable design and his continued advocacy for affordable housing.
John’s leadership in large-scale affordable housing has become a national model for addressing the housing crisis through sustainable, community-responsive design. With a commitment to sustainable practices, he has overseen the development of over twenty 100% affordable buildings, comprising more than 3,300 apartments. Notably, he has pioneered the integration of Passive House principles into multi-family affordable housing design, resulting in four of the largest Passive House mixed-use buildings in the United States, totaling 961 affordable apartments, with hundreds more now in design. These projects exemplify his dedication to environmental justice, resident health, and affordability. Moreover, each of these buildings marked the respective clients' first Passive House project, showcasing John’s innovative approach to sustainable architecture.
“The honor of having arrived at the professional milestone of joining the College of Fellows has clarified for me that a significant part of attaining this honor has been the journey. The self-reflecting process of preparing my application to the AIA N required that I assess the arc of my career and my impact on the profession. Some of it rewarding, some of it less so, but always an investment in something that was more than just a “job”. The worsening climate crisis and our City’s, State’s and Country’s affordable housing crisis call for architects to be civically engaged to guide public policy as well as designing environmentally responsible buildings. My application for Fellowship intertwined three themes that embody the Dattner Architects ethos and summarize my work: Affordable Housing, Leadership through Advocacy, and Innovative Sustainable Design. Architecture is an incredibly rewarding profession that requires patience and collaboration. The body of work that led to my elevation to the AIA College of Fellows resulted from both my personal and my colleagues’ dedication to civic and essential architecture.” – John Woelfling, FAIA
John has presented his experience successfully applying passive house principles to mid- and high-rise multifamily developments to a variety of audiences across North America including different organizations, professionals, students, and communities. He has led discussions at different events including the AIA National Conference, USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference, and was the keynote speaker at the PHIUS National Conference in Chicago. He was also named as one of Crain’s Notable Leaders in Sustainability last year.
As a board member of the NYS Association for Affordable Housing and of his local community board in Brooklyn, NY, John advocates for community based affordable housing and sustainable design approaches. His “open source” approach to knowledge sharing serves as an inclusive approach to environmental design and sets a national model for integrating affordable housing with sustainable design.
Under John’s leadership, the firm’s affordable housing work integrates sustainable design standards to achieve buildings with superior indoor air quality and energy performance that address environmental inequities and result in positive impacts on communities.
Dattner Architects’ Director of Sustainability, Shefali Sanghvi and Associate, Heather McKinstry will be speaking at the Passive House Accelerator’s Reimagine Buildings’ 24 (RB’24) held on March 7 and March 8.
A new vision for what a global conference can be, PHA’s, RB’24 is a virtual experience tailored to provide essential knowledge, connections, and inspiration to create impactful buildings that are resilient and equitable. For 24 hours speakers and audience members will discuss new, innovative buildings, exploring topics like deep energy efficiency, low-embodied carbon and more.
Heather will join a panel of experts on the main stage to discuss the climate crisis and the affordability crisis. She will highlight Dattner Architects’ 425 Grand Concourse project as an example of how affordable housing projects benefit from Passive House solutions.
Friday March 8th, 2024: 8am – 8:50am
Hour 21: Haven For All: Climate Resilient Affordable Housing
Shefali will be speaking at the closing panel during the conclusion of the event, presenting a global view on resiliency of buildings, sites, and the future of sustainable, equitable development.
Friday March 8th, 2024: 11am – 12pm
Hour 24: Closing the Circle: Equity, Resiliency, and Future Horizons
Learn from people from around the world are adopting better building techniques that not only embrace Passive House standards but also plant-based materials, and localized approaches to decarbonization and resiliency.
More and register here:
https://www.accelevents.com/e/passive-house-accelerator?aff=AIANYS
Featured in the January/February 2024 issue, The Architect’s Newspaper included the latest updates on Dattner Architects’ Alafia Master Plan and highlights from a discussion with Daniel Heuberger, the Principal in Charge of the plan, and subsequent phase 1 design...Situated on a 27-acre site at the northern edge of Jamaica Bay in Brooklyn, Alafia is an ambitious master plan that will transform a decommissioned state psychiatric hospital into a wellness-oriented resilient community designed to address the chronic social, economic, and health disparities in a historically underserved area.
The project is based on notable planning principles.
Integrating a mix of scales to foster a sense of place, identification, and belonging. The personal scale includes small scale spaces, individualized buildings, lobbies, and finishes. The communal scale includes buildings centered around shared amenities and garden spaces. The neighborhood scale creates a publicly accessible interior campus, crossed by city streets, welcoming pedestrians and vehicles.
Currently in the first phase of construction, the mixed-use, mid-rise Building C1/C2 will provide 452 units of affordable housing including units for the formerly homeless and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it will include exterior and interior amenity spaces, a social services suite, a health clinic, and retail spaces. Building C3 will provide 124 units and will include exterior and interior amenity spaces. The buildings are designed to be Passive House certified.
We have started construction of the Maintenance Hub, which will serve as a flexible operational facility, ensuring compliance with both current and future waste regulations. The centralized trash and recycling collection facility will allow waste, biowaste, and recyclable waste streams from throughout the development to be centralized.
As one of the largest projects to result from the New York State Vital Brooklyn Initiative, Dattner Architects designed the master plan in collaboration with landscape architect SCAPE.
“The buildings share a number of common characteristics: a communal identity built around a shared, defensible, and safe outdoor space; a lively, activated ground plane with residential, commercial, and community facility activities on all sides of the structure; a sense of place created by a mix of scales and unique massing to each building; and a healthy, comfortable environment based on sustainable, Passive House principles.”- Daniel Heuberger, Principal at Dattner Articles.
Read full article here:
Alafia by Dattner and SCAPE is underway in East New York (archpaper.com)
With a diverse portfolio spanning six decades, Dattner Architects has played a pivotal role in reshaping urban landscapes, creating spaces that not only provide shelter but also foster a sense of community and dignity for those in need. Grounded in principles of inclusivity and sustainability, our work reflects a deep understanding of the complexities of homelessness and the importance of providing holistic support systems. We are designing two shelter and supportive housing projects that will not only provide for those in need for housing but also clinic services for the community at large.
59th Street Shelter
59th Street Shelter is a new 200-bed women's shelter on West 59th Street in Manhattan under construction that, in addition to providing much needed emergency housing for the unhoused, will also include a public-facing Article 28 outpatient medical clinic. This project will be operated by Project Renewal and as a joint development venture with the Hudson Companies, two NYC based organizations with a long history of providing local affordable and supportive housing. The new building unlocks the available floor area on the site to provide a 51,000 square foot, 9-story building designed to achieve LEED Gold.
The building features green roofs and a street-facing landscaped terrace for residents to engage in gardening and passive recreation. This terrace was born from the project's unique site context which informed the building massing, diagrammatically allowing the adjacent public park to fold over and onto the setback roof.
Understanding the importance of the first impressions of a building by an arriving shelter resident, the façades were composed with a multi-family residential association in their materiality, scale, and detailing. The building’s superstructure was leveraged to create large windows in the primary façade that provide an abundance of natural daylight into the shelter dormitories.
New Providence Redevelopment
New Providence is the redevelopment of a 6-story women’s shelter on East 45th Steet in Manhattan that Project Renewal operated for several decades. The building did not meet the programmatic needs and the site was significantly under-built. In a joint venture between Project Renewal and Monadnock Development, Dattner Architects was retained to design a new building to redevelop the site with a purpose-built women’s shelter and supportive housing.
The new 130,000 square foot, 21-story building will include a 171-bed women's shelter and will provide 130 supportive and affordable housing units. The shelter will function as transitional housing for shelter clients and the supportive and affordable units will be permanent housing for residents.
The shelter is located at the base of the building and includes exterior amenity space, recreation areas, a full kitchen for food service and cooking/hospitality training, and extensive therapeutic and social service support facilities. The supportive housing component includes its own exterior amenity space and a large social services suite. A public-facing Article 28 health clinic operated by Project Renewal on the ground floor will serve both the residents of the building and the surrounding neighborhood.
Principal Paul Bauer and Director of Sustainability, Senior Associate, Shefali Sanghvi joined industry leaders and peers at this year’s New York Build Expo on February 14th at the Javits Center.
Panel: From Waste to Wealth: Circular Construction for a Sustainable Future
Date & Time: February 14, 2024, at 12:00pm
Speakers: Shefali Sanghvi (Dattner Architects); Nicole Spina (NYCEDC); Amanda Kaminsky (Americas - Lendlease); Kritika Kharbanda (Henning Larsen); Kat West (Turner & Townsend); Sheida Shahi (Adaptis); Jonathan Munkley (WSP, Zero Construct)
Panel: Designing a Safer City for All
Date & Time: February 14, 2024, at 11:00pm
Speakers: Paul Bauer (Dattner Architects); Adam Paul Susaneck (AECOM Metro New York); Roberto Vila (Stantec); Sofia Berger (WSP); Aaron Mendelsohn (New York City Council)
The New York Build Expo is the largest construction and design show for New York and the Tri-State area. The show features 500+ top industry speakers across 15 different tracks and AIA CES approved workshops, 400+ exhibitors, exclusive free-to-attend networking events including the Women in Construction and Diversity in Construction, an Architect’s Hub, and much more.
Dattner Architects’ Associate Principal Rachel Ehrlich AIA, LEED AP BD+C talks with Urban Omnibus (The Architectural League of New York) about designing projects that address the intersectional crises of affordable housing and climate change, the role of architects when creating housing within tight sites and underserved communities, and the value of collaboration.
In the interview with Mariana Mogilevich, editor-in-chief of Urban Omnibus, Rachel highlights design solutions and challenges faced during design and construction of the recently completed affordable housing project Santaella Gardens, and supporting housing project St. James Terrace.
The way that we create housing in New York City is its own ecosystem and industry. The architecture is a tiny piece of it. We think of the building as being the most important part, but the people that put together the financing think of money as the most important part. And then the people who are providing social services to the people in these homes are like: “Obviously, caring for these people is the most important part. If we don’t figure that out, what are we doing here?”
Rachel is a leader in the design of affordable housing, and she has a distinct focus on supportive and senior living spaces. A climate activist, her dedication centers around enriching communities, creating vibrant, livable neighborhoods that serve as the foundation for social equity. Through her expertise, she strives to provide well-designed, sustainable homes for individuals across all income levels.
For the last four years, Rachel has represented Madison, New Jersey as a council member where she supports the town’s concerns regarding infrastructure, capital projects, and climate action.
“We recently adopted climate goals in our town of 17,000 people and are working towards cutting carbon pollution and increasing resiliency to mitigate the effects of climate change that are already here.”
Read more:
https://urbanomnibus.net/2024/01/building-out-of-a-tight-spot/
Dattner Architects will host The Architectural League's First Friday on March 1st, 2024.
As part of The Architectural League’s well-regarded First Friday Series, we are opening up our office to members on March 1, 2024. Join us for an evening of drinks, conversation, and a look into our ongoing and award-winning projects, culture, and space.
The League’s First Friday events are informal social gatherings that allow members to visit the offices of leading design practices and see work on the boards.
We will be highlighting projects from our archives as well as exhibiting new projects, our Passive House affordable housing, and a group of adaptive re-use projects. We also hope to provide insight into our professional development programs and ERGs.
Registration opens soon, directly through the Architectural League:
First Friday: Dattner Architects - The Architectural League of New York (archleague.org)
Dattner Architects proudly announces the promotion of four new Senior Associates and three Associates. These promotions reflect these employees’ dedication to our firm, commitment to our civic architecture mission, and professional rigor.
Aaron Campbell, Lola Rodriguez, Pascale Baladi have been elevated to Associate. Our new Senior Associates are Adam Siegel, Jon King, Patrick McAffrey, and Wei Wang.
“The dedication and achievements of these seven professionals is celebrated through these promotions. They each bring a welcome and distinctive perspective to our practice, and we are excited about their continued impact on our firm and our projects.”
- Kirsten Sibilia, Managing Principal
Aaron Campbell, RA, CPHC, Associate has worked in architecture, exhibitions, fabrication, real estate development, and general contracting. These experiences shaped his understanding of how architectural knowledge operates within a larger industry context. His focus is on the design of accessible public facilities, and he is currently a team member for the design of the Hoboken Maritime Park.
Lola Rodriguez, RA, LEED AP, Associate has focused her career on projects that serve the public. She balances her broad international perspective from her training and practice as a licensed architect in Peru with her local work experience, to guide each project from conception to completion. Lola is an essential part of the team designing and building JFK’s Central Terminal Roadways and Ground Transportation Center
Pascale Baladi, AIA, Associate is fascinated with the different ways in which cultures shape the inner workings of modern urban environments, and how they influence the way humans’ paths cross, intertwine, mingle, and engage with each other. This fascination has led her to pursue design of urban multi-family residential buildings, where she hopes to contribute to the provision of safe, equitable, and affordable homes for each diverse community. Pascale was nominated for 2023 METROPOLIS’ inaugural Arch30 Event which recognizes the next generation of leadership in architecture. She is a member of the firm’s EDI Task Force.
Inspired by the city of New York, Adam Siegel, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Assoc. DBIA, ENV SP, PMP, Senior Associate believes in architecture’s ability to create a sustainable future through design excellence. Concentrating on the design of urban transportation and infrastructure projects, he is committed to an engaged, collaborative process that fulfills the team’s design aspirations as well as meets the needs of stakeholders. Adam’s skill as a project manager carries through to the construction site.
Jon King AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate has the ability to integrate and manage functionality and design goals results in built projects with enduring and sustainable value. He applies a deep understanding of high-performance building practices to his projects informed in part through continual research and collaboration with industry experts on subjects including thermal envelope assemblies and building systems.
Formally trained in both architecture and product design, Patrick McAffrey AIA, Senior Associate ’s passion for intelligent urbanism has led him to focus his work on infrastructure and transportation projects, which he believes have profound impact on the building fabric and urban lifestyles they support. Patrick is the project manager for Department of Sanitation’s (DSNY) District 3 Garage under construction in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and the Studio Director for our Transportation/Infrastructure Studio
Wei Wang AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Senior Associate believes the architect’s role goes beyond design and function; it also uplifts communities and fosters social equity. She has experience managing projects, from mixed-use high-rise residential developments to commercial buildings. Passionate about building materials and research, Wei co-chairs the firm’s Sustainable Practice Group and AIA Committee on the Environment. She was called upon to represent the next generation of architects as the Young Architects Representative for AIA New York State.
Bronx High School of Science, Stanley Manne Research Institute has been awarded an Editor’s Pick in the Education - Kindergarten, Primary & High School category for The Architect’s Newspapers Best of Design 2023!
Located at the Bronx High School of Science, one of New York City’s top public schools, the Stanley Manne Research Institute is a new state-of-the-art research building, gifted to the campus by Bronx Science ’58 alum Stanley Manne. This university-level facility allows high school students from across the Bronx to conduct long-term experiments and prepare for college or professional settings.
The building houses three multidisciplinary labs, a walk-in cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room, animal room, and a multi-purpose room for special events. Like a professional lab, spaces are modular and flexible, as equipment and science requirements change over time.
The façade is composed of tightly spaced, fiber-reinforced concrete panels, punctuated by modular openings that relate to the compact and rational laboratory plans. The three-dimensional panels cast changing and dynamic shadows on the façade over the course of the day. Bright green brick accents representing the school color mark the entrances and carry inside to the main stair and lobby. These design elements serve both an aesthetic and performance function, as the tight building envelope and careful design of the exterior allowed for reduction in heating and cooling loads, which made the all-electric systems feasible for the project. Based on the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories benchmarking, the project’s Energy Use Intensity is expected to be 70% of typical laboratory buildings.
Congratulations to William (Bill) Stein FAIA as he steps into the role of Principal Emeritus. Bill has been a vital leader of Dattner Architects for over forty-five years. His career exemplifies architecture in service to society, committed to design excellence and civic engagement.
Bill studied with Richard Dattner at the City College School of Architecture (now the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture) and joined Richard’s practice in 1977. He became an associate in 1980 and a principal in 1999. At Dattner Architects he has fostered a collaborative, inclusive culture, shaping buildings that serve social needs and improve neighborhoods.
He has directed notable civic and housing projects throughout New York City and guided the growth of the firm’s affordable housing practice. From Public School 234 in the heart of Tribeca, to the landmark West 72nd Street Subway Station, to The New York Public Library’s Bronx Library Center, to Via Verde, the award-winning, sustainable affordable housing development, Bill’s work has had a lasting impact on the public realm and the lives of New Yorkers.
Bill is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He served as a Vice-President of AIA NY and President of the Center for Architecture Foundation. He chaired a code review committee for the NYC Model Code Adoption and is a board member of the Citizens Housing & Planning Council. In 2021 he received the Henry Hobson Richardson Award from the AIA NYS, recognizing architects who have made a significant contribution to the quality of public architecture in New York State.
We are thrilled to share that Dattner Architects’ project Bronx High School of Science; Stanley Manne Institute was recognized as ENR (Engineering News- Record) 2023 New York Best Project k-12 Education Project.
Located at the Bronx High School of Science, the Stanley Manne Research Institute is a new state-of-the-art research building named after, and generously funded by, Bronx Science alumnus Stanley Manne. This university-level facility will allow high school students from across the Bronx to conduct long-term experiments, preparing them for college or professional settings.
The building houses three multidisciplinary labs, a walk-in cold room, tissue culture room, microscopy room, sterilization room, animal room, and a multi-purpose room for special events. Like a professional lab, spaces are modular and flexible, as equipment and science requirements change over time. Each lab is served by a computational room for group meetings, lectures, and experiment data review.
For more information about this category award and full list of winners:
Best Project K-12 Education: Bronx High School of Science - Stanley Manne ’52 Institute of Science | Engineering News-Record (enr.com)
We are thrilled to share that Dattner Architects’ projects Vital Brookdale and Chestnut Commons projects each won multiple PHIUS Design Competition awards at the PhiusCon 2023, held earlier this week.
Vital Brookdale, an exemplary model of community-based housing plus healthcare, won Best Overall Project and was named the Winner in the Low-Rise Multifamily category. 
Vital Brookdale is the first project in New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative, a program designed to improve Central Brooklyn’s low-income residents’ access to health, wellness, and housing. The design and programming of the building sets a new benchmark for high-quality, sustainable, health-focused, affordable housing mixed-use developments. The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) + 2015 certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency.
Chestnut Commons was announced as a winner for High-Rise Multifamily Category.
One of the first developments stemming from the East New York Neighborhood Plan, Chestnut Commons provides affordable housing for formerly homeless and low-income households. 275 affordable housing apartments are supported by an integrated programming package, including communal spaces on the second floor with direct access to a landscaped roof terrace. Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a community center operated by Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation, a satellite Community College campus, a food manufacturing incubator that provides job training, and a credit union.
Located at the eastern edge of Parkchester, a mid-twentieth-century planned community in the Bronx, comprised of 171 “towers in the park,” Parkchester Gardens is a new development that offers 220 affordable apartments for seniors, 30% of which are dedicated to formerly homeless seniors, embodying a commitment to community and well-being.
On the ground floor, Parkchester Gardens incorporates social services and welfare accessory amenity spaces including a social services and counseling suite with six private offices and a conference room, available to all tenants.
As part of the project’s active design initiative, the development features tiered outdoor terraces to encourage simultaneous physical activities, such as Tai Chi, outdoor cooking, and gardening.
Common amenities include a large community multi-purpose room with space for low-impact physical activities, a lounge and community pantry, and a gathering, living-room-like area—all of which can be combined into a single space for large, building-wide events, or partitioned for various, smaller simultaneous activities and programs. A fitness room offers exercise and weight training equipment, and a computer room affords technical training classes. Additional amenities include laundry rooms on every floor and bike storage in the cellar.
Chestnut Commons won two awards at the SARA National Design Awards this weekend! The project is the winner of both the Design Excellence Award and the Multi-Family Residential: Affordable Housing, Low Income Housing, Market Rate Housing.
Chestnut Commons is an innovative, sustainable, mixed-use development that provides critically needed affordable housing to over 600 formerly homeless and low-income households. Community-centric in both design and development, the project integrates a satellite Community College campus, workforce training, and a credit union – all within a Passive House building.
Developed and operated by locally based organizations with strong community ties, the project strengthens the neighborhood with the inclusion of economic development and educational opportunities, arts programming, and job training services.
Chestnut Commons exemplifies an innovative affordable housing model for sustainable development. The project provides not only urgently needed affordable housing, but a deep commitment to environmental equity and community building.
The Society of American Registered Architects (SARA) National Design Awards celebrates excellence in architecture & design.
AIA New York State, New Jersey and Pennsylvania will present a three-part online series on equity and affordability in housing on November 10, November 17, and December 1, 2023.
The panel From the Architect’s View: The Challenges and Opportunities Implementing Sustainability in Housing, will feature Shefali Sanghvi, Director of Sustainability, Dattner Architects. It is being held on Friday, November 17, 10:30am-12:00pm EST.
The panel will examine challenges and opportunities around implementing sustainability in affordable housing covering topics such as how design sustainability should be defined, how we ensure that we, as designers, do not lose aspect of the human scale of our work, and how we are looking forward in our work.
At Dattner Architects, we are dedicated to achieving high levels of urban sustainability and density – pioneering green civic and residential design and helping communities affected by climate change. Our Sustainable Practice Group (SPG) facilitates a positive environmental impact and improves occupant health, equity, and the resilience of Dattner projects through research on energy use, renewable energy, indoor environment and human health, sustainable materials, site ecology, and urban infrastructure.
Join us for insightful discussions on the housing sector in the tri-state region. You can register for entire series or individual programs here:
About - Tri-State Equity and Affordability in Housing Webinar Series (cvent.com)
Chestnut Commons is the 2023 Multi-family/Mixed Use winner of the Metropolis Planet Positive Award! This awards program recognizes design for a regenerative and equitable future. Judged by four expert juries across project types, regions, and product categories, award winners represent “the highest achievements in design that addresses climate change, ecosystem health, human health, and equity.”
Chestnut Commons is an innovative and community-centric Passive House development that provides 275 critically needed affordable apartments to formerly homeless and low-income households in the Cypress Hill section of Brooklyn. This project is part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan and delivers on the commitment to provide meaningful affordable housing that allows residents to stay within their community.
A model for sustainable development through its community-centric approach, and in its Passive House systems and detailing, Chestnut Commons exemplifies an innovative affordable housing model. Projects such as Chestnut Commons provide not only urgently needed affordable housing for those that need it most, but a deep commitment to environmental equity by utilizing a building type that is both highly energy efficient and resilient.
Developed and operated in conjunction with local organizations, Chestnut Commons supports the neighborhood with economic development and educational opportunities, arts programs, and job training services. Programming includes a Brooklyn Cooperative Federal Credit Union branch, a café, and a kitchen incubator.
Dattner Architects’ Vital Brookdale won the ULI Award for Excellence in Affordable Housing last Thursday night at the Awards Gala. The Urban Land Institute’s New York Awards for Excellence in Development are a highly competitive program that recognizes best in class projects that excel in design, sustainability, and impact.
Vital Brookdale, developed through a public-private partnership sponsored by New York State, was applauded for demonstrating “how targeted interventions through supportive housing can change life trajectories.” The Passive House project includes deeply affordable apartments with a host of amenities, job training and empowerment facilities, and a new healthcare center.
Director of Sustainability and Project Manager, Shefali Sanghvi (right) receiving the award with Catherine Levenson from MDG construction
An exceptional model of affordable, sustainable, community-based housing, Vital Brookdale combines a f health-focused community resources and affordable apartments for the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn.
The low-carbon development is Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) certified, an international standard of building for maximized energy efficiency. The project includes a 100kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, a series of green roofs and plantings, and other energy efficient measures to ensure the comfort and affordability for residents as well as sustainability of the building.
Videos of Vital Brookdale and the other 2023 Award winners are available on the ULI New York website:
2023 ULI New York Gala Winners | ULI New York Gala
Open House New York (OHNY) is back with its annual citywide celebration of architecture! Offering a unique opportunity to experience New York City and the built environment, Dattner Architects will participate in this year’s OHNY Weekend with in-person tours at projects on Saturday, October 21, Chestnut Commons and Sunday, October 22, Broome Street Development.
Chestnut Commons
Located on an underused public land bounded by Dinsmore Place, Chestnut Street, and Atlantic Avenue, Chestnut Commons provides 275 affordable housing units to formerly homeless, extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households. This project is part of the East New York Neighborhood Plan, released in 2016 as part of the East New York new neighborhood rezoning, outlining a commitment to expedite the construction of deeply affordable housing.
This new 14-story development offers a variety of uses contributing to a self-sustaining community with activities that support, enhance, and stimulate the surrounding community. The residential portion of the building integrates programming throughout, including communal spaces on the second floor with direct access to a landscaped roof terrace for residents, extending indoor activities to the outdoors. A large portion of the 14th floor roof is a gardening area with raised planting beds to create opportunities for active planting and vegetable cultivation.
Broome Street Development
Our recently completed Suffolk and Norfolk buildings are located just South of the Essex Crossing in the Lower East Side. The 460,000 square foot mixed-use development encompasses a diverse mix of market-rate, affordable and senior housing, as well as a community facility, retail space and the headquarters for a well-known neighborhood social services organization.
The building covers most of the city block, fronting multiple streets. It incorporates a combination of different building heights, window proportions and careful brick detailing that relate to the mix of scales that characterize this vibrant and ever-changing neighborhood.
We can’t wait to celebrate OHNY Weekend with all of you. See you on October 21-22!
Dattner Architects' Brandon Wang and Pascale Baladi were invited and engaged participants at the inaugural METROPOLIS Arch 30 program, which recognizes the next generation of leadership in architecture. Collaborating with leading design firms in select cities, METROPOLIS identifies top talent under the age of 30 that share a commitment to sustainability and knowledge sharing. Each group meets for a workshop led by the magazine's editors, followed by networking opportunities with program partners.
Avi Rajagopal, editor in chief, and Verda Alexander, editor at large, were workshop facilitators. They "encouraged the young leaders in architecture to think about the challenges they face at work, how to find the support they need, and how to identify and pursue purposeful work." Pascale and Brandon found the evening energizing and the interactive experience connecting with peers, exchanging insights, and sharing thoughts about leadership, sustainability, and architecture practices at their respective workplaces incredibly valuable.
“It is an honor to have been nominated for METROPOLIS' inaugural Arch30 Event and to have the chance to connect with many like-minded young professionals who are eager to learn and push the industry forward with ambition, innovation, and camaraderie. I came out of it feeling empowered to be part of such a capable generation of architects, who simultaneously have become a peer support network.” – Pascale Baladi
Read more:
METROPOLIS Honors its First Arch30 Cohort in New York - Metropolis (metropolismag.com)