Hidden Image

Bank Lofts

Otsego County

Otsego County highlighted on a map of New York State over a green and white bokeh dot background.
BACK TO EARLY DESIGN SUPPORT PROJECTS

Integration of Passive House Design Principles into the Adaptive Reuse of an Existing Structure and Promoting Downtown Revitalization

BOE 38 Bank Lofts Statistics BOE 38 Bank Lofts Statistics

Bank Lofts

118 West Main Street Richfield Springs, NY

3 Stories

9 Market rate units

14,787 Total sq ft. 

  • River Architects
  • Adaptive Reuse
  • Anticipated Completion
  • EDS Award: $110,000
  • PHIUS

Key Scope Items Studied:

  1. Integration of Passive House design in adaptive reuse while meeting historic metrics (SHPO approved but no historic tax credit)
  2. Visibility of SANCO2 water heaters
  3. Evaluation of paper-based dense-packed blown-in cellulose insulation vs wood floor insulation
  4. Advance interior air quality
  5. Active and passive survivability
  6. Economic analysis of high efficiency adaptive reuse projects

Project Description

Bank Lofts, located at 118 West Main Street in Richfield Springs, NY, is a mixed-use adaptive reuse project designed by River Architects, PLLC. The 14,787 square-foot building, originally a historic structure, will be transformed into 9 market-rate rental units for mid-career professionals, along with commercial spaces designed to serve as community hubs. The project is PHIUS certified under the Phius+ 2021 Core pathway, featuring a highly energy-efficient Passive House envelope, all-electric systems, and a 16,800 kWh/year solar array. Each apartment will be equipped with air-source heat pumps, semi-centralized ERVs, and energy-efficient appliances like induction cooktops and heat pump clothes dryers. The ground-level design will activate the streetscape with community-focused spaces and an outdoor seating area, while solar canopies above the parking area will include 4 EV charging stations. The adaptive reuse approach preserves the building’s historic character while reducing embodied carbon, and the durable, temperature-stable envelope ensures resiliency. The project completed construction in fall 2024. (Commercial tenant fit-out to be completed in Q1 of 2025).

Design Team Lead
River Architects, PLLC (opens in new window)

Project Team
Developer: Dooalot LLC

Early Design Support Project Scope

Funded Early Design Support studies for Bank Lofts include the integration of Passive House design principles into the adaptive reuse of the existing structure while meeting historic preservation requirements for tax credits. The feasibility of using SANCO2 water heaters will be evaluated, along with the potential for dense-packed blown-in cellulose insulation to improve energy performance. The study will also focus on advancing interior air quality through improved ventilation strategies, as well as assessing both active and passive survivability features to ensure resilience. Additionally, an economic analysis will explore the viability of high-efficiency adaptive reuse projects, considering both initial costs and long-term operational savings.

The Buildings of Excellence Early Design Support Program

Buildings of Excellence Early Design Support (EDS) Partners are qualified design firms that are elevating new design approaches for a zero emission future in New York’s multifamily buildings that prioritize occupant health, safety, and comfort. Partners are eligible to receive up to $1.50/square foot in direct funding per project, up to a cap of $150,000 per project, to complete carbon neutral research, modeling, early-stage applications for third party standards, economic analyses, integrated project delivery meetings, and more robust marketing and promotion plans to disseminate information out to the market.

Become an Early Design Support Partner