studio libeskind's affordable senior housing complex opens in brooklyn

atrium at sumner in NYC welcomes residents

Studio Libeskind’s Atrium at Sumner in Brooklyn, NYC’s newest affordable senior housing complex, is a contorting geometric volume punctuated by a pattern of open and solid elements. The design actively engages with the urban context, with bold diagonal lines wrapping the facade at angles that rise from the ground, creating a folding form that breaks down street-level massing. A glazed entrance lobby creates an open connection to the street, leading into a courtyard linked with residential corridors looking inward toward a central green public space on the second floor.

It rises eleven stories high and delivers 190 new apartments across the park-like setting at the campus of NYCHA’s Sumner Houses. 57 of these units will be reserved for seniors who had formerly experienced homelessness, while the rest will be available to households earning below or equivalent to 50 percent of Area Median Income. The project’s design conception began in 2017, with residents moving in in April 2024.

all images courtesy of Studio Libeskind

studio libeskind creates affordable housing for seniors

‘Growing up in social housing in the Bronx gave me a unique perspective on the importance of community and high-quality, affordable housing. I took this insight to task when designing the Atrium at Sumner Houses; I wanted to create a place that felt like home to the residents,’ says Principal Design Architect Daniel Libeskind. As such, all aspects of the development are dedicated to enhancing seniors’ quality of life, designed to accommodate the Age-In-Place philosophy. All units are adaptable, with 19 apartments fully adapted to accommodate tenants with physical disabilities and 4 apartments fully adapted for visually or hearing-impaired residents.

Adjacent to the building’s entrances, Studio Libeskind has integrated community gardens and outdoor seating for residents, while inside, amenities for comfort across security, leisure, and residential comfort are ensured — from on-site assistance to a multi-purpose community room and library and exercise facilities. Emergency pull cords and built-in air conditioners feature in each apartment, and handrails are prevalent in common areas. Onsite social services are also provided through Selfhelp’s Active Services for Aging Model with voluntary social work support for each resident and a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly on the ground floor.

Atrium at Sumner is NYC’s newest affordable senior housing complex

passive house standards ensure sustainability

The Atrium at Sumner also incorporates Passive House Standards with significant green and energy-efficient features aligned with Enterprise Green Communities, Energy Star Multifamily High Rise, and NYSERDA Programs. This results in 60 to 70 percent less energy consumption than the average New York City apartment building. High-performance envelope materials and systems and energy-efficiency HVAC and ERV systems have been employed, alongside full electrical appliances and HVAC systems in the apartments and amenity rooms, prioritizing clean energy and reduced carbon emissions.

Studio Libeskind additionally introduces an emergency power generator serving life safety systems, emergency lighting, and outlets, allowing residents to utilize the community room as a resilient hub. Active design elements, such as stairwell windows and hallway organization, encourage residents to use stairs rather than elevators.

the contorting geometric volume is punctuated by a pattern of open and solid elements

Studio Libeskind’s Atrium at Sumner is a partnership with the New York CityHousing Authority, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development, the NYC Housing Development Corporation, Selfhelp Community Services, RiseBoro, and Urban Builders Collaborative/LettireConstruction Corp.

a central green public space on the second floor