Engaged by local community development organization Ridgewood Bushwick Senior Citizens Council, Inc., Magnusson Architecture and Planning, PC (MAP) was asked to design a building that provided a combination of elegant, affordable housing and community and commercial use space. To that end MAP has provided for almost 6,000 square feet of community use-space within the building, including public assembly space for 338 occupants in the cellar, a first floor community meeting room and 1,300 square feet of community facility rental space.

Rheingold Heights I and II make up a new construction, mixed-use, affordable housing development located in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, NY. This 7-story, 117-unit apartment building for low income households was built in two phases and was funded through the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and the New York State Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR).

Rheingold Heights I and II were designed to create the illusion of one complete building with a uniform façade detailing and two articulated corners. Rheingold Heights takes advantage of its site with an articulated ‘tower’ detail on the corners. The building’s entrances have an exterior canopy and a dramatic aluminum and glass vestibule.

Additionally, located on the ground floor is a laundry room, which opens out onto a landscaped courtyard and an outdoor play area. Incorporated into all design, construction and building systems are green elements, including high efficiency windows, energy star lighting and appliances and a high-efficiency non-condensing boiler on the roof, cavity wall foam insulation, motion controlled lighting and Energy Star lighting and appliances.