A Year in Review: Designing for Community

Cortelyou Road and Archer Green received awards. Landy Court, Healthview, Bedford Green House I, and more celebrated ribbon cuttings. New projects are underway in design and construction. ESKW/A was also pleased to welcome six new architectural staff members, Ethan Alspaugh, Tiffany Gong, Schuyler Klein, Angela Njoroge, Reuben Soularie, and Holly Wolf to the team this year. As our office grows and 2022 comes to a close, we feel particularly grateful for our staff and clients over the years. Looking back on our New Settlement Community Campus project, which celebrated a decade of community service this past summer, we are reminded of the long-term impact our projects have on the well-being of our communities.

Cortelyou Road was recognized by the Society of American Registered Architects

*Baptist Church of the Redeemer Entrance at 1921 Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn. © David Sundberg / ESTO*

Cortelyou Road was recognized with Design Awards from SARA National and SARA New York this year. Developed through a partnership with MHANY Management and the Baptist Church of the Redeemer, Cortelyou Road is a new, sustainable, 9-story, mixed-used, residential building and church community facility. The 15,000 SF church serves the existing congregation with an inspiring sky-lit sanctuary, a welcoming storefront presence, and salvaged historical elements from the original church. In a time of increased housing insecurity for many New Yorkers, the inclusion of 76 units of supportive, affordable, state-of-the-art housing is a welcome addition to the Flatbush community. Inspired by the entire team’s mutual vision for community empowerment, the Reverend dedicated church space for Turning Point Brooklyn’s “We Care About You” Shower Program for the homeless.

Landy Court celebrated its ribbon cutting

Located on School Street in Downtown Yonkers, Landy Court is a 7-story, 80-unit, affordable, and supportive housing project. The building was jointly developed by Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, Concern for Independent Living, and CSD Housing. To honor the manufacturing history and scale of the neighborhood, the five stories of apartment floors are broken into five distinct masses. Brick details provide further texture and scale breakdown. Since the building is designed on a hillside, the double-height lobby connects the street level to upper rear terraces, creating a slice of glazing so that the lobby is always daylit.

Archer Green's sustainable strategies were recognized with a Big Apple Brownfield Award and a Queens and Bronx Building Association Award

Archer Green is a new, LEED-certified 540,000 SF, 100% affordable housing development in downtown Jamaica. Developed by Omni New York, with the support of EDC, HPD, and HDC as well as numerous local council members and the Borough President, the project will play an important role in the revitalization of Jamaica, Queens. The building provides 387 permanent housing apartments, extensive residential amenities, a 15,000 SF of community facility, and 70,000 SF street-level retail space. Archer Green incorporates extensive green technologies that improve building operations and increase resiliency; including a state-of-the-art battery energy storage system that can provide backup power in the event of a blackout, solar panels, and a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system.

*Archer Green apartment. © Michael Grimm*

A year of growth: active projects

*Bedford Green House II now under construction. Render by Ian Huff.*

In addition to the groundbreaking at Bedford Green House II and Baez Place, design is underway for several new projects, including Boone Avenue (The Bridge), Inwood Shelter (The Bowery Residents’ Committee), Bryant Avenue (Community Access), Melrose Avenue (New Infill Homeownership Opportunities Program), Blondell Avenue Shelter (Care for the Homeless), Catherine Sheridan Residences (Catholic Charities POP), River Avenue II (Community Access) and Harriet Tubman II (West Harlem Group).

*Pre-cast stone panels go up at PS 108 X Addition.*

Among the projects currently under construction are the addition to PS 108 X, pictured above, Bedford Green House phase II, and several projects for Settlement Housing Fund, Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, and The Bridge.