Roxbury, MA
Passive House, 140 Centre Street
Scope/Solutions
Like all Placetailor projects, the Fort Hill Passive House is built with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainable building practices. SGH designed the structure for the five-unit, multifamily building.
The project includes the following passive strategies:
- Highly insulated and airtight enclosure with careful detailing to minimize thermal bridging
- Balanced continuous ventilation with energy recovery
- Efficient mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
- Hot water panels on roof for solar gain
SGH designed the wood-framed structure and highlights of our design include the following:
- Sustainably harvested wood
- Wood framing spaced at 24 in. o.c. to reduce material usage compared to typical 16 in. o.c. spacing
- Stud walls with interior and exterior stud walls, creating an interstitial space for continuous cellulose insulation between the planes
- Interior stud wall located inboard of the retaining wall, allowing for a thinner retaining wall and minimizing the volume of concrete
- Wood-framed, roof trusses with open webs, providing a cavity for continuous cellulose insulation
- Roof and floor sheathing that cantilevers over the interior stud wall, minimizing the thermal bridge to the exterior wall
- Use of foam glass isolators at structural bearing locations, reducing thermal losses through the structure
Rendering by Placetailor Inc.
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Project Summary
2016
Completion Date
Passive House
Certification
Solutions
New Construction
Services
Structures
Markets
Residential
Client(s)
Placetailor, Inc.
Specialized Capabilities
Building Design
Key team members
John Thomsen
Managing Principal, New Structural Design, Boston
Additional Projects
Northeast
Macallen Building Condominiums
The Macallen Building is the second phase of a 270-unit residential development in South Boston. The building contains three parking levels, a 20,000 sq ft elevated green space, and 140 units spread over an additional eleven levels. SGH was the structural engineer of record for the project.
Northeast
10 Farnsworth Street
With industrial design features, 10 Farnsworth Street celebrates the history of its Fort Point neighborhood. SGH consulted on the building enclosure design and helped the project team develop flood mitigation strategies.