Casa Celina

Location: Bronx, NY

Client: JASA, Xenolith, ELH-TKC

Type: Affordable Senior Housing

Size: 136,000 SF

Units: 205

The winning RFP proposal for HPD and NYCHA’s Seniors First program at the Sotomayor Houses in the Soundview section of the Bronx (and named in honor of the Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s mother, Celina Baez) this 16-story building offers affordable senior units.

Approximately 3,350 square feet of community space will be accessible to NYCHA residents and the surrounding community. The development also provides on-site social support, health services, and cultural programming for seniors and the community. 

The all-electric building includes a variety of sustainability and resiliency measures, as well as amenities such as an exercise/fitness room, laundry room, lounge areas, a ground-floor community space, and a landscaped rooftop terrace. 


Awards

2024 National Design Award- Award of Honor
SARA National

2024 Bronx Borough President Award
QBBA Building Awards

2024 Third Place Affordable Housing Category 
SHN Architecture & Design Awards

2024 Finalist - Supportive Housing Categorie
NYCxDesign 

Casa Celina, Bronx, NY, North East Corner at Thieriot and Watson Avenues
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. Main entry on Thieriot Avenue.
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. Ground floor lobby.
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. East south facade.
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. Mail room on the ground floor lobby.
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. Ground floor community room.
Casa Celina east north facade, street view from Watson Avenue.

Overall, the design is an evolution of the public housing typology, one that creates a much stronger relationship to the neighborhood particularly through the ground floor plan.

Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. Building south facade
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY. Building north facade.
 

The north/south orientation of the site and building provides an opportunity for energy generation through a large solar array. The angled recesses of the windows and articulation of the facade were then added to shade the east/west facing units and mitigate heat gain. 

Casa Celina lounge area on 10th floor.
Casa Celina, Bronx, Ny, typical floor lounge
Casa Celina Bronx, NY, one bedroom interior apartment filled with natural light
Casa Celina, Bronx, NY, kitchen, dining, and living room one bedroom apartment

Incorporating active design principles, the stairs are given prominent placement in high traffic areas and have large windows for daylight and views. As an additional enticement to walk up and down, the lounges (programmed differently on alternating floors) are located next to the stairs, creating a vertical network of social spaces. 

Watch video

 

Photos by Ari Burling, David Sundberg/Esto, Miguel de Guzmán/Imagen Subliminal.

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