Full of amenities—laundry rooms on each floor, gym, roof garden with planting space, a generous back yard and double height lobby which leads to a similarly grand community room that spills over into the rear garden, Van Dyke III, proposed on a NYCHA site in Brownsville, Brooklyn sets a standard for livability in public housing.

MAP proposed a modern, efficient 203 unit multi-family building that prioritizes sustainable living, community access and safety in an affordable design. Following a traditional tower-in-the-park massing, the building becomes iconic through a limestone colored EIFS surface with angular framed recessed windows creating a dynamic facade. The facade design is visually stunning, varying as daylight shifts and casts shadows throughout the day, but it is also environmentally sensitive—the recessed windows and shading from the articulated planes reduce solar heat gain. The design of the residential program follows passive house standards, reducing operating costs and increasing efficiency. Resiliency considerations include allowing tenant to remain in times of environmental emergencies, and are supported through passive house strategies. A focus on active design, maximizing outdoor and green space contributes to the health of the interior environment.

The building is truly mixed-use, opening to the community with at-grade retail, flexible cultural and community space. Open green space, sidewalk activation, resident experience and safety are prioritized in its design and lighting. The rear yard is accessible by tenants of the Van Dyke for barbecuing, children’s play, gardening or relaxing. Flanked by two existent NYCHA multi-family buildings the Van Dyke elevates the neighborhood it joins.