Passive House Multi-Family:

Anything BUT a Default Solution for Housing!

​

Ralph Bennett, Architect, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, Prof. Em.

Initially designed for SF houses;

3 Requirements:

a. Total Energy use

b. Heating and Cooling Energy

c. Air tightness

​

Then and Still – no interest in:

Water

Site (natural)

Transportation, Land Use

Materials

Quality of Life

Innovation

With thanks to:

​

Design Team:

Scott Welch, AIA, Certified Passive House Designer, LEED Green Associate; Torti Gallas + Partners Architects

Passive House Architects: Nicholson Kovalchick Architects

Structural Engineers: S.A.Ward

Mechanical Engineers: Magrann Associates

Electrical Engineer: Mulhern Consulting Engineers

Sustainability Consultant: Steven Winter Associates

​

Owners/Developers:

PS Ventures (Shane Pollin)

Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County

​

​

The Project

​

is a joint venture between

A local developer who owns large commercial holdings on the other side of New Hampshire Avenue and is seriously committed to green building, Shane Pollin of PS Ventures

And

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County,

our LHA (of which I was Commissioner and Chair for 8 years).

​

The Age Restricted Tower nearest New Hampshire Avenue will have

155 affordable units while

The West building will have 308 units of which at least 10% will be affordable to families earning 60% of local median income.

​

​

​

Site on 3 November 2024

It has been a long haul – Site plan approved in 2021 - three years of design, bidding, negotiation,

​

Construction completion is now predicted for 2027,

• After a complicated, demanding construction process with

• thorough inspection, verification and commissioning and

• one year of documented operation to verify the design,

​

The Project will be Certified a Passive House community…and perhaps Net Zero Energy…

​

​

​

Questions?