PASEO VERDE – MIXED USE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
Philadelphia, PA
The Paseo Verde development at 1900 North 9th Street in Philadelphia, links residents, workers and students to one of the busiest transit stations outside of Center City and represents the culmination of a decade-long planning effort by Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) to revitalize the surrounding neighborhood and successfully reintegrate the local community into both the neighboring Temple University campus and the broader urban fabric beyond.
The development replaced a brownfield location that was decontaminated prior to construction. At 206,000 sq. ft., the five-story building consisted of 120 rental units with one- to three-bedroom apartments for low and moderate-income families, as well as 30,000 square feet of office and retail space and almost 70 underground parking spaces. The goal of the project was to provide affordable and market-rate transit-oriented housing.
CSA Group provided the MEP engineering designs for Wallace Roberts & Todd Architects. Mechanical and electrical systems design included the preparation of an energy model to optimize gas, electric and domestic water usage for each apartment unit.
As the nation’s first LEED for Neighborhood Development Platinum Project, the building’s green amenities included photovoltaic solar panels, spacious green and blue roofs, an energy efficient building envelope and MEP systems, comprehensive storm water management system and the use of locally produced, recycled and renewable materials – providing residents a sustainable, healthy living environment, as well as cost savings through effective reduction in both water and energy use. This project aimed to serve as a model for sustainable redevelopment in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia. The project received a Merit Award from the American Institute of Architects, Pennsylvania Chapter.