ENTERRA

from Portfolio_5

by Emily Ruopp

FORTRESSES OF CULTURE

POWERS AVE DESIGN-BUILD RFP SUBMISSION

MOTT HAVEN / BRONX, NY

PROJECT INFORMATION:

WORK TYPE: PROFESSIONAL / ARCHITECTURE IN FORMATION

CLIENT: NYC HPD / RAAD CONSTRUCTION GROUP / BRONXWORKS

DATE COMPLETED: NOVEMBER 2022

ROLE: PROJECT MANAGER / PROJECT ARCHITECT

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

LOCATED AT 351 POWERS AVENUE IN THE BRONX, ENTERRA IS A 6-STORY PASSIVE HOUSE BUILDING, WITH AN ICONIC TERRACOTTA FAÇADE. READING AS A DISTINCT OBJECT, ENTERRA IS ENVISIONED AS A BEACON OF HOPE AND PROGRESS FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BUILDING SITS ON A 175’ LONG, 54’ WIDE, MID-BLOCK, SET BACK 15’ FROM THE STREET. THE 1ST FLOOR IS SET DOWN FROM THE STREET LEVEL BY 5’ AMID A DENSE SWATH OF NATIVE PLANTS THAT HELP REDUCE HEAT ISLAND EFFECT. BELOW THAT, THE BUILDING ACCOMMODATES BELOW-GRADE PARKING FOR 31 SPACES THAT WILL MAINLY SERVE STAFF OF THE ADJACENT PS-65 MOTHER HALE ACADEMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IN TOTAL, THERE WILL BE 57 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, OF WHICH 30% WILL BE SUPPORTIVE FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS PEOPLE, COMPRISED OF 20 EFFICIENCY STUDIOS, 19 ONE BEDROOMS, AND 18 TWO BEDROOMS.

THE RESIDENTIAL FLOORS ARE DESIGNED FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF HPD COMPLIANCE, ACTIVE DESIGN GUIDELINES, AND QUALITY HOUSING STANDARDS. THE INTERIOR CORRIDORS ARE A GENEROUS 5’ IN WIDTH, AND NATURALLY LIT WITH WINDOWS AT THE END OF EACH CORRIDOR AND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VERTICAL CIRCULATION CORE. THE ELEVATORS AND STAIRS ARE CENTRALLY LOCATED, WITH SCISSOR-STAIRS STACKED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE ELEVATORS. BY USING LIGHTING, BOLD COLORS, SUPER GRAPHICS, AND WINDOWS AT EACH LANDING, THE EGRESS STAIRS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO A HEALTHY, SAFE, AND ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE.

RESIDENTIAL AMENITIES OF THE BUILDING INCLUDE A COOLING CENTER, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR RECREATION SPACES, A GARDEN, OCCUPIABLE ROOF, LAUNDRY ROOM, BICYCLE STORAGE, AND SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICE. A LOUNGE AND RECREATION SPACE ON THE SECOND FLOOR ALSO OPENS DIRECTLY ONTO A LARGE COURTYARD THAT SITS ON THE ROOF OF THE COMMUNITY FACILITY. THE INDOOR RECREATION ROOM IS A HIGHLY FLEXIBLE AREA FOR A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING GAMES, YOGA, EVENTS, A COOLING CENTER IN THE EVENT OF A POWER OUTAGE RUN BY A BACKUP POWER SOURCE. THE REAR COURTYARD, DEDICATED TO RESIDENTIAL USE, FOLLOWS THE SLOPE OF THE PARKING RAMP BELOW, AND CREATES A SERIES OF SMALLER, INTIMATE SPACES. LAUNDRY FACILITIES ON THE GROUND FLOOR HAVE DIRECT VISUAL ACCESS TO THE REAR YARD WHERE PARENTS CAN KEEP AN EYE ON PLAYING CHILDREN WHILE DOING FAMILY CHORES.

LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR, WOOSAA WELLNESS OCCUPIES THE COMMUNITY FACILITY SPACE AND THE ADJACENT EXTERIOR COURTYARD, WHICH IS ENTERED OFF THE STREET THROUGH A ROLLING GATE. RATHER THAN CREATING JAIL-LIKE FENCES THAT SEGREGATE COMMUNITY OF COLOR, THIS ROLLING GATE BECOMES AN ELEMENT OF PRIDE AND EMPOWERMENT BY INCORPORATING INSPIRING TEXT FROM BOTH WOOSAA WELLNESS’ MISSION STATEMENT AND QUOTES OF PROMINENT LOCALS. WOOSAA WELLNESS IS A NON-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS DEDICATED TO TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF AT-RISK AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED YOUTH.

THE SHARED VISION OF WOOSAA WELLNESS AND ENTERRA REINFORCE A COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL RESILIENCE AND TO BE A BEACON OF HOPE FOR AT-RISK AND INCARCERATED YOUTH. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE TRANSFORMING THEIR LIVES AND REENTERING SOCIETY WITH DIGNITY A CHANCE TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THEIR COMMUNITIES. ENTERRA AS A WHOLE IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.