Congratulations to all the teams involved in developing Vital Brookdale, which won the award for Excellence in Affordable Housing at the 2023 Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Excellence in Developments Awards.
ULI’s Excellence in Development Awards honor outstanding development projects in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors across New York State. Vital Brookdale won the award for Excellence in Affordable Development at the ULI awards ceremony on October 18, 2023.
Vital Brookdale, a mixed-use residential development in Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, includes 160 affordable housing units, as well as a community space on the ground floor that will include both a job training space and a fresh food program.
Bright Power served as the sustainability consultant for Vital Brookdale, from the initial RFP with New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) in 2018 through to the completion of Phius+ 2015 certification in 2023. The property features a 100kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system, as well as a series of green roofs and plantings, high performance mechanical systems, insulation and windows, LED lighting, low-flow water fixtures, and other energy efficient measures that ensure comfort, affordability, and sustainability.
We are proud to have supported all three of the finalists for Excellence in Affordable Housing Development for 2023 with sustainability services. In addition to Vital Brookdale, the other finalists for the Excellence in Affordable Housing Development Award were The Peninsula and Rockaway Village.
These three projects represent a commitment to excellence in development, with Bright Power playing a vital role in providing sustainability services, including commissioning and solar installation. These projects underscore what is achievable when innovative developers, architects, and dedicated public partners collaborate to establish healthy and vibrant communities.
Finalist Highlights:
Winner: Vital Brookdale
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Developers/Owners: MDG Design & Construction LLC, Smith & Henzy Advisory Group, The New York Foundling
Public Partner: New York State’s Vital Brooklyn Initiative
Architect: Dattner Architects
Bright Power Services: Sustainability Services, Commissioning, Solar Design and Installation, Energy Analysis via Energy Scorecards
Bright Power worked on the Phius+ 2015 certification for Vital Brookdale, a 7-story residential building that provides its low-income population with verified thermal comfort, superior air quality, and deep energy savings through a highly efficient envelope and mechanical systems, supplemented by on-site solar PV. The building was designed to ensure efficient temperature regulation throughout the year to promote passive resiliency while operating at a low heating and cooling demand.
Finalist: The Peninsula
Location: Bronx, NY
Developer: The Hudson Companies, Gilbane Development Company, Mutual Housing Association of New York (MHANY)
Public Agency Partner: New York City Economic Development Corporation
Architects: WXY Architects, Body Lawson Associates Architects and Planners
Bright Power Services: Sustainability Services, Commissioning, Solar Design and Installation, Energy Analysis via Energy Scorecards
Bright Power played a key role in achieving LEED-Gold certification for The Peninsula project by implementing sustainable features such as solar panels, low-flow appliances, high-efficacy lighting, and an airtight building envelope. Ultimately, sustainability was a project priority in transforming the site from a former juvenile detention center into a vibrant, highly affordable housing, commercial, and cultural development, showcasing the potential of repurposing space for empowerment and growth.
Finalist: Rockaway Village
Location: Queens, NY
Developer: Phipps Houses
Public Agency Partners: New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, New York City Housing Development Corporation
Architect: Marvel
Bright Power Services: Sustainability Services, Commissioning, and Solar Design and Installation
Bright Power’s role as sustainability consultant for Rockaway Village included designing and modeling the solar photovoltaic system, as well as ensuring that building systems installed were tested and operating in an efficient manner to meet the Building Performance Certification criteria.