Branden Klayko reports on the pioneering project planned by innovative Philadelphia design-build developers Onion Flats.
Planned for a site on the banks of the Schuylkill River, The Ridge is intended to become the nation's largest Passive House. Scheduled to be completed in 2014, the building will be prefabricated in a facility just outside Philadelphia.
Sustainable elements include power generated by a 200-kilowatt solar array and a completely permeable, green-roof covering the site.
The technical aspects of solving the net-zero energy puzzle are not the only challenges for Onion Flats. "What's going to be important is to demonstrate that it's easier to meet Passive House standards on large-scale buildings than small buildings," [Timothy] McDonald, [Principal] said. "We want to show that it's not only possible but also much easier to take on larger buildings without losing quality design."
FULL STORY: Passive Progressive
A Giant Leap Forward for Low-Income Housing in Philadelphia
Inga Saffron reviews a trio of environmentally friendly rowhouses built for low-income families in Philadelphia's Logan neighborhood, which she proclaims are "superior to anything Philadelphia has done in half a century."
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SEPTA Budget Slashes Service by 45 Percent
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
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Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
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Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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Planning for Universal Design
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