RKT&B Architects Expands Urban Infill, Affordable Housing Program

By Erika Schnitzer, Associate EditorNew York–RKT&B Architects will add four new projects to its “Smart Housing” urban infill program. Developed jointly with CPC Resources (CPCR), the program is designed to address the need for affordable housing in New York.“One of the characteristics of these neighborhoods is that buildings are either missing or in such a decrepit state that they need to be replaced in small lots,” multiples of 20 to 25 ft., says Carmi Bee, FAIA, president, RKT&B. Each of the projects is modeled on a prototype of four-story, eight-family walk-ups. The first project, which was completed in 2003, was Prospect Gardens in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  The new projects will include Bergen Street Housing in Crown Heights and Putnam Madison Housing (pictured) in Bedford Stuyvesant, both of which will be comprised of 48 units. Other projects include the 88-unit Brownsville Housing and the eight-unit 476 Sterling Place in Crown Heights, which is 20 percent complete.“The idea is that they are kind of like building blocks that come in standardized sizes and can fit into blank spaces on these blocks,” Bee tells MHN. “They were developed to optimize what is allowable by the zoning laws and building codes in New York City.”  Under the code, the buildings’ floor plates can be up to 2,500 sq. ft., Bee explains.Additionally, the projects will include some sustainable features, including the use of recycled materials in construction and energy-efficient HVAC systems. Natural light will be used in the public staircase, which will be enclosed in glass and located on the outside wall of the building. This allows for natural light and security due to its visibility from the street, notes Bee. Additionally, when the stairs are lit up at night, they will serve as a lantern for the street.While the prototypes are the same for each project, they are customized slightly according to site conditions, notes Bee. Additionally, each project has a different façade design that relates to the neighborhood in which it is built. The residences, which consist of apartments and co-ops, are targeted towards families with two incomes of $90,000 or less. The unit, which include one, two and three bedrooms, are being built for under $200 per sq. ft. “There’s no reason why [this model] can’t be applied in any urban area,” Bee asserts. “It represents a strategy for renewing neighborhoods and giving people the opportunity to have decent housing at an affordable price.”