OCV Architects

Published: October 19, 2007
By Kelly Sheehan, Online News Editor

New York—Enterprise Community Partners and Fordham Bedford Housing Corp., a community developer that creates and preserves affordable housing, has completed Jacob’s Place, a 63-unit environmentally friendly affordable housing complex in the Bronx in New York City.

John Reilly of Fordham Bedford Housing Corp. tells MHN that the project broke ground in August 2005. It includes a solar electric system (pictured) provided through the Solar Neighbors Program, a unique partnership created by Enterprise and BP.

Under the Solar Neighbors Program, every time a participating celebrity purchases a BP solar system for his or her home, BP donated a similar system to be installed on a low-income family’s home. Enterprise identifies these low-income families and affordable housing developers.

In this particular case, Jacob’s Place was provided with an 11 kW, 64-panel electric power system that will provide energy to common areas and elevators as well as for ventilation. Actor and director Owen Wilson, who purchased a solar system for his home, made the solar panel donation to Jacob’s Place possible. The New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) provided half of the total cost of the solar system.

“Environmentally friendly housing is important not only for low-income residents who suffer disproportionately from high energy costs and environment-related health issues, such as asthma and high blood lead levels, but also for the environment as a whole,” says Abby Sigal, vice president and director of Enterprise New York. “Enterprise has put such tremendous resources behind its Green Communities program because we believe that building green is a necessity, not a luxury, in low-income neighborhoods.”

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OCV’s “Jacob's Place”, the first low-income and green apartment building in the nation, had a ribbon cutting ceremony October 15 which was featured on FOXe News. The broadcast focused on the remarkable green features of the building and can be viewed online at MyFox.com. 

Green Architecture benefits families as well as the environment. At Jacob's Place, materials were chosen to make the building healthier for Tenants, especially with regard to people suffering from asthma. All  finishes and furnishings have low-impact on the air quality in the building.

Materials were also chosen for their durability, sustainability and energy efficiency. All apartments have energy efficient windows and appliances as well as sustainable and durable bamboo flooring. (For more information on the sustainability of bamboo floors, visit economicallysound.com)

But perhaps the most compelling green features cover the roof. 64 solar panels and a garden bed planted with a low growing sedum were an important part of OCV architect’s green design. The panels save on energy and it's costs to the families by producing enough power to operate the elevators and light the common area.

Low-growing succulents, like the Sedum at Jacob's Place, add insulation — cutting costs and saving energy, but also having an impact beyond the building itself. The Sedum absorbs water, taking some burden off the city's storm system. Migratory birds also use green bed to rest on their seasonal routes. (For more information on planting for Green Rooftops, visit greenroofs.org.)
 

As New York City grows, affordable housing is more and more in demand, and the creation of housing like Jacob's Place helps keeps this growth sustainable for the environment, the city infrastructure and the people of New York. 

Jack Coogan (far left), Partner at OCV Architects, attends the ribbon cutting ceremony for Jacob's Place.

Also from left to right: Ivine Galarza (Community Board 6 District Manager), Shaun Donovan (NYC HPD Commissioner), José Rivera (US Congressman), Four members of the Jacobo family?(including Ana Jacobo – Astin’s wife), Joel Rivera (NYC Council Majority Leader)

John Reilly (Executive Director Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation), Cindy Wymore (Director, Government & Public Affairs, BP America – BP Solar), Ed Norton (Actor, Enterprise Board of Directors), Abby Jo Sigal (Vice President and New York Director, Enterprise), Elliot J. Hobbs (Vice President – JP Morgan Chase) 

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OCV Architects completes 74 Warren Street, transforming an historic manufacturing building into three luxury lofts and one duplex penthouse in NYC's fashionable Tribeca neighborhood. The project is also featured as backdrop to an edgey fashion spread in FLAUNT Magazine.

74 Warren, New York N.Y., November 2006 – Sara Arnold, OCV R.A. and partner, is the architect behind the master plan, which transformed a manufacturing building in Tribeca's Landmark District, into 3 luxury lofts, and a duplex penthouse. In collaboration with Stylander Design Group for interiors, the architects created spaces that are open and opulent with 12 ft. high floating ceilings, exposed brick and new amenities throughout. 

The owners wanted to create spaces that were workable for families as well as single people: "We wanted features of apartment living, without giving up the unique qualities of this 100-year-old loft. New construction doesn't deliver the same look and feel, even when it’s marketed as lofts. Here you get the ceiling heights, exposed mechanical infrastructure, and huge, deep spaces. "

The original brick is exposed and restored to preserve the historic city loft feel while highly polished details, such as translucent mosaic tiles and glass doors were added to make the space bright and airy. “The challenge, architecturally, is to bring as much light as possible into the interior of the loft," says Sara Arnold. The polish of the space is accented with high-end amenities, such as radiant-heated stone floors, recessed halogen lighting throughout and opulent bathrooms with spa features. This modern purism is further realized in the open plan and the environmentally-friendly Poggenpohl kitchens. Guest and master baths are well-appointed with porcelain fixtures from Duravit and Dornbracht. Recessed marble baseboards and windowsills act as a perfect complement to the slick, durable interiors.

It is the architect's role to feature ‘space’ as the ultimate urban luxury. In fact, it is OCV’s extensive experience with codes and special-use zoning laws for downtown Manhattan real estate that make them a good choice for NYC high-end residential loft conversion.

Johan Stylander, well-known for his interior design work at prestigious Wall Street law firms, designed the chic interiors. “It was rewarding to collaborate with a gifted interior designer and to use such lush materials in an understated way. I think of Johan is a master of restraint," Sara Arnold said of Stylander.  The challenge was to preserve historic aspects, but to overcome the typical challenges of lofts which can tend to read as long and narrow in the extreme. The ceiling is the main player in unifying and brightening the whole.  "We put more design time into the ceiling than into the space;" Arnold said.  Everything mechanical had to be hidden behind the white surface, which appears harmonious, light, and airy. It is a modern-day, and much more modest, Boromini tribute.  To that end, OCV Architect's Carla Fuquena-Pena and Stylander Design Group's Brian Hackathorn spent no small number of hours in the field working with the individual trades — air conditioning, electrical, and sprinkler — to make the elements read as the unified design you see here.

We are pleased that Stephanie Pfriender Stylander chose to use the loft as the backdrop for her recent edgy fashion shoot featured in FLAUNT magazine, No. 77.  Said Arnold of the magazine editorial; "These photos cause me to look at the space in a new way. As architects, we tend to visualize space in the abstract, flat, and without people. It's interesting to see it from a different point of view." 


 
 

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Bernadette Castro: Historic Preservation Commissioner, Mr. Wilf: Owner, Michael C. Koffler: Chief Executive of Metropolitan Preschools, Inc., Jack Coogan: Partner, OCV Archtiects, Mary Dierickx: Architectural Preservation Consultants and Jack Silverstein: Project Manager, Walwilhal  Associates

Photo credit: John Williams, NYS Parks, LI Region

OCV Architects receives a prestigious SHPO award for restoring and converting the Bank of America International building into the new Claremont Preparatory School at 41 Broad Street, New York City —the only statewide award being given for privately-funded Historic Preservation in New York State this year.

Sara Arnold: Partner, OCV Architects, Jack Coogan: Partner, OCV,  Bernadette Castro: Historic Preservation Commissioner, Barbara Weuhrer: Archtiect, OCV.  Photo credit: John Williams, NYS Parks, LI Region

The restoration and conversion of the former Bank of America International Building into a 120,000 square foot, eleven-story private school is an architectural marvel by OCV Architects who are making a better New York with their unique brand of smart, community-conscious architecture. This 25 million dollar project, which will accommodate 1000 elementary school students in 2007, is recognized for its excellent landmark preservation. OCV will be honored for their skillful gut-renovation by the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) at their commencement in October of 2006. Jack Coogan, Partner at OCV Architects, steered the project for Michael Koffler, President and C.E.O. of MetSchools, Inc., an organization dedicated to developing well-rounded schools in New York City. The plans for the new Claremont Preparatory School came as parents voiced concerns about having more quality school options in the city. Claremont is the only secular private school in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District, but it is one of many private schools developed by MetSchools with OCV Architects, including the Aaron School, the Claremont Children's School, and the Sunshine Development School in Queens.

The OCV team: Barbara Wuehrer, Tracy Koch, Sara Arnold, Jack Coogan, Anne Ginsberg, Anna Veracruz, Carla Fuqueue Pena, Bill Ladley.

 

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OCV Architects is making a better New York with the completion of a 48 unit supportive-housing site. A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place with New York City’s Community Counseling and Mediation organization (CCM http://www.ccmnyc.org ) and many of NYC’s distinguished housing and development officials.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of a new supportive housing facility in the center of Brooklyn. Notable attendees were sponsors and supporters of the CCM organization’s ‘Georgia’s Place’ named after their founding chairperson, the late Dr. Georgia McMurray. Distinguished ribbon cutters included Ruthann Pickering (NYS OTDA HHAP), Timothy O’Hanlon (NYC HPD), Luis Acosta (NYS DHCR), Laura Grund (NYC DHMH), Mike Litvin (HUD), and George Nashack (NYC DHS).

Richard Vitto, Founding Partner at OCV architects, headed up the 2-year project. It is one of many in his career as an urban supportive-housing architecture specialist.

Georgia's Place will be welcoming residents who are homeless and in need of mental health services. This new construction in Bedford-Stuyvesant supports the 48 private units with an on-site mental health clinic, a communal dining room, dining terrace, basketball court and a common room. The architecture is all designed by OCV to provide inviting homes for people with special needs.

Over the years Richard Vitto has partnered with many local non-profits and government agencies as the architect of facilities designed to house, help and re-acclimate people. His experience as an architect has given him skills to help non-profits cope with the financial, community and functional issues as well as the architectural design and construction of these havens. Mr. Vitto believes that certain critical architectural features — like open, light and comfortable common spaces — are an investment in the future of the less fortunate and the community at large. “Building something of quality for this population,” Vitto says, “revives the communal heart of a neighborhood and inspires us, and the surrounding residents, to take care of each other — making a better New York.”

Amy Larovere, consultant to CCM and many affordable housing agencies, highly recommends OCV Architects to all of her clients. “The design is thoughtful - beautiful,” Ms. Larovere said, “OCV helps to navigate the bureaucratic process. They do their job and I don’t worry about it." She went on to state, “Rich Vitto is well-respected by City and State agencies, non-profits and foundations.”
 

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