3365 Third Avenue – Bringing Passive House to the Bronx

Project Background:

The innovative eight-story, Third Avenue mixed-use development, with thirty units of affordable rental housing and an Early Development Center, is designed for Passive House and LEED for Homes Multifamily Midrise Platinum.

The exterior façade consists of ground face brick block, metal panel and EIFS, allowing the tall and slender structure to be proportional to the surrounding neighborhood. The playful façade and photovoltaics are visible from a distance.

The Little Scholars Early Learning Development Center, located at the first and cellar floors, is designed to encourage each child’s creativity and exploration of their environment, following the Reggio Emilia educational pedagogy. Natural light is provided to each classroom by windows or skylights, and extends the visual continuity of education beyond the classroom. Playful interior windows of various shapes allow for interaction between the classrooms and common spaces. The Little Scholars Lobby doubles as a common classroom, with a direct connection to an exterior classroom at the courtyard. An additional outdoor classroom at the rear of the cellar expands the child space. The classroom spaces themselves are designed to be flexible with movable furniture and a variety of hard and soft surfaces.