On a prominent double-corner lot that sat empty for decades, 4697 Third Avenue addresses a diverse context with a rich program of affordable housing and community services for the vibrant Fordham neighborhood. The building balances the neighborhood’s industrial and emerging residential contexts with sculptural window fins and a building massing that rises and twists as it responds to a highly visible site.
This new 7-story, 63,000 SF mixed-use, mixed-income housing development provides 53 affordable apartments to a previously vacant, city-owned parcel, enhancing a sense of community and reinforcing the Third Avenue corridor. This project demonstrates that affordable housing can be high-performing, economical, and contribute positively to the community.
4697 Third Avenue is Passive House Certified. In a neighborhood with high air pollution and asthma rates, these rigorous energy-efficiency design standards reduce the building’s environmental impact while providing residents with thermal comfort, a healthier indoor environment, and lower operational costs. Off-the-shelf products are paired with innovative details like window fins that reduce solar heat gain and improve the thermal and airtightness of the building envelope. The rooftop photovoltaic pergola and window fins further contribute to the project’s sustainability goals while communicating the building’s ambitions and distinctive design.
The project fosters a strong sense of place—as an anchor for the neighborhood and a welcoming home for residents that will enrich their lives, improve their health, and reduce energy and housing costs. Filled with natural light, artwork, and ample indoor and outdoor recreation space, the shared spaces promote well-being and encourage physical activity. Residents are connected to the neighborhood surroundings, with corridor windows providing views of transit centers, Third Avenue, and the Fordham University campus beyond.
Status: Built
Location: Bronx, NY, US
Firm Role: Architecture
Additional Credits: Bronx Pro Group, Steven Winter Associates, Harriet Grimm, Skyline Engineering, De Nardis Engineering, and Home Builders 1.
