In a significant step towards a more sustainable skyline, Alloy Development is set to begin construction on what is expected to become the world's tallest passive house skyscraper. The building, named One Third Avenue, will rise prominently above downtown Brooklyn with a design focused on environmental sustainability. Standing at a projected 725 feet and spanning 63 stories, the structure will exceed energy efficiency standards established by both New York and international benchmarks.
CBS News provided an outline of the project, called The Alloy Block. In addition to its large scale, the developers have stated that a quarter of the 583 rental apartments will be designated as affordable housing. The project will also renovate two 19th-century buildings, converting them into retail spaces, while contributing to the tower’s design focused on sustainability.
David McCarty, vice president of Alloy Development, highlighted the importance of implementing forward-thinking construction in urban areas, where buildings are significant contributors to carbon emissions. "In New York City, you know, the majority of our carbon emissions come from buildings. And as a result, if we're going to tackle climate change in New York City, we need to decarbonize our buildings," McCarty told CBS News. This concept of a passive house entails a highly insulated and airtight building envelope, significantly reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling.
Jared Della Valle, Alloy's CEO and co-founder, asserted the practicality of such sustainable approaches to construction, stating to Bloomberg, "All buildings are going to have to measure their performance, and we’re just ahead of it." The Alloy Block aims to prove that high sustainability standards can be achieved without incurring astronomical costs, a point underlined by the competitive rental prices at an another Alloy Development project, 505 State Street.
Building to passive house standards is gaining popularity in the United States, primarily because of its potential to significantly reduce energy consumption. Architect Michael Ingui, founder of the Passive House Accelerator, advocates for these buildings due to their quietness and energy efficiency. "You really barely need to heat the house. You're heating it maybe, maybe 10 nights in the whole winter, maybe less. So because of that, I don't have to design for heating anymore," Ingui described in an interview with CBS News.
