The Peninsula in the Bronx, N.Y., a mixed-use affordable housing campus, just opened its first phase. The development has a comprehensive plan to reduce waste, separate recyclable materials, and make it easy for residents to collect compostable materials.
The development, which will provide 740 residential units when completed, includes a recently completed commercial structure housing a food incubator and related businesses. This structure contains refrigerated storage and shelf capacity for surplus edible food to preserve it for donations to local partner organizations.
Food waste will be collected and put to good use. “Food waste will be separated by the food businesses, and processed into fertilizer within a dry aerobic bio-digester,” says Miflin, who with partner WXY has created a related new initiative called PutWasteToWork. The bio-digester has a capacity of 0.55 tons of food waste a day, and processes it with microbes and heat to create a fertilizer. The bio-digester reduces weight by up to 90% and eliminates pests and odors.
Infrastructure will be built into residential areas to encourage collection of food waste for composting. Every unit will have undercounter bins for recycling and a caddy for food waste," “They will take these to the refuse rooms on each floor, which also host collections of small items like sharps and batteries,” says Claire Weisz, FAIA, founding principal of WXY.
According to the project team, consultants will help train staff, and provide software for tracking all waste types and measuring progress towards zero-waste operations. This is a radically new idea for an affordable community, according to a news release.
Owner and/or developer: Hudson Companies, Gilbane Development Co., and MHANY Management Inc. (part of the Mutual Housing Association of New York).
Design architect: WXY architecture + urban design and Body Lawson Associates Architects and Planners
Architect of record: WXY architecture + urban design and Body Lawson Associates Architects and Planners
MEP engineer: Skyline Engineering
Structural engineer: Gedeon GRC Consulting and Christie Engineering
General contractor/construction manager: Broadway Builders and Gilbane
Related Stories
| Feb 5, 2013
8 eye-popping wood building projects
From 100-foot roof spans to novel reclaimed wood installations, the winners of the 2013 National Wood Design Awards push the envelope in wood design.
| Jan 31, 2013
Map of U.S. illustrates planning times for commercial construction
Stephen Oliner, a UCLA professor doing research for the Federal Reserve Board, has made the first-ever estimate of planning times for commercial construction across the United States.
| Jan 31, 2013
More severe wind storms should prompt nationwide reexamination of building codes, says insurance expert
The increased number and severity of storms with high winds nationally should prompt a reexamination of building codes in every community, says Mory Katz, vice president, Verisk Insurance Solutions Commercial Property, Jersey City, N.J.
| Jan 29, 2013
Trinitas and Harrison Street Break Ground Near University of Kentucky
The 699-bed Collegiate on Angliana, with an anticipated opening date of August 2013, will serve students attending the University of Kentucky (UK).
| Jan 23, 2013
Music-Inspired Apartment Complex Completed in Tampa's Tempo District
Named in honor of jazz artist Ella Fitzgerald, Ella at Encore is the first building to rise from plans to develop a mixed-use, mixed-income urban village in the community.
| Dec 6, 2012
Suffolk Construction awarded Phase Two of Boston’s Old Colony redevelopment project
Project team breaks ground on South Boston public housing project designed for energy efficiency.
| Nov 13, 2012
2012 LEED for Homes Award recipients announced
USGBC recognizes excellence in the green residential building community at its Greenbuild Conference & Expo in San Francisco
| Nov 11, 2012
Greenbuild 2012 Report: Multifamily
Sustainably designed apartments are apples of developers’ eyes
| Oct 5, 2012
2012 Reconstruction Award Silver Winner: 220 Water Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.
The recent rehabilitation of 220 Water Street transforms it from a vacant manufacturing facility to a 134-unit luxury apartment building in Brooklyn’s DUMBO neighborhood.
| Aug 1, 2012
C.W. Driver forms Driver URBAN
Driver URBAN specializes in the construction of multi-family apartments, mixed-use developments, affordable housing, student and senior housing, and hospitality projects.
