In 2018, HSA transformed a 15,000 square-foot 1920’s commercial building in the Brooklyn Heights historic district into Packer Collegiate Institute’s new Early Learning Center using Passive House principles.
While the landmark brick and terra cotta facades were restored, the building’s interior and structure were replaced, and the cellar was excavated for a multi-use indoor play and performance space. High performance energy standards were integrated into the design, including a robust thermal envelope, triple-glazed wood windows, and a high-performance mechanical system incorporating ERV’s. A major challenge was to control thermal breaks where new construction meets the historic masonry fabric.
A one-story addition at the roof houses an Atelier where science and art are taught as one. The Atelier’s over-sized wood-framed sliding glass doors open onto a rooftop play area, which is enclosed by a playful custom perforated steel fence.