COOKFOX Architects

Located in the Bronx’s primarily residential Mott Haven neighborhood, Betances provides safe, healthy, permanent housing for at-risk seniors in the community. The 152 affordable residential units and 10,600 square feet of community space and amenities were designed to Passive House standards and incorporate biophilic and active design to support residents’ health and well-being. The neighborhood is a notorious “asthma corridor” within New York City, so the project delivers exceptional indoor air quality for vulnerable residents through high-performance air filtration that delivers fresh, filtered outside air to each unit. The Passive House design strategy also provides interior acoustic comfort for residents sensitive to noise. Each resident has their privacy in units ranging from studios to one-bedrooms, with a private kitchen, bathroom, and views of the garden courtyard, the street, or the urban skyline on the upper floors.