This 92,000-square-foot, six-story building for Common Ground Communities creates 190 permanent supportive housing units for the formerly homeless and for people living with HIV/AIDS. It also serves as a temporary residence for young people transitioning to permanent employment and homes. By replacing an empty lot, the building repairs the urban fabric of the block by creating a continuous street wall along Brook Avenue and East 148th Street in the Bronx. Multi-purpose rooms on the main floor have been designed to accommodate social services, meetings, and other coordinated events. With its distinctive modern design, the building gives equal emphasis to private rooms and communal spaces. The landscaped courtyard at the rear of the building mitigates street noise and creates a sense of intimacy and serenity within the urban setting.
The building was designed and engineered for maximum environmental sensitivity using the most cost-effective means available. In 2013, the Brook received LEED Silver certification through the U.S. Green Building Council. Green technology that enhances sustainability include heating and cooling systems controlled by motion sensors, a green roof irrigated by recycled grey water, low-flow showerheads, and draft vestibules (or airlock entries) to control the effects of wind. Low- and non-VOC paints were used throughout the interior. Besides these enhancements of air quality, copious daylight helps improve residents’ daily lives.
The Brook was built by Mountco Construction who also built our Boston Road project.