The Block 19, located in the Revitalization District of East 11th Street, is designed as a striking piece of art that blends the old and new design elements. The project includes 11 retail stores and offices, 20 residential condominiums, and roof top decks accessible by all residents. The unique solar screen on the south and west facades is one of the features that contributes to the building’s 3-Star Green Building Rating.
Bercy Chen Studio has incorporated modest materials in creative and dynamic ways. The entire ground level is conceived as a full height glass mounted in front of a steel structure, offering the illusion of the entire building floating on cubes of glass. The entrance to the site is located under a long span steel truss that supports two storeys of residential units across a 65ft span. This helps in further enhancing the visual ‘lightness’ of the building. The upper south and west facades are shielded from the hot sun with a multi-faceted steel panel screen which doubles as a shading device and guardrails for the residential balconies.
Block 19 is distinct for the use of sustainable elements without relying on expensive, high maintenance green ‘gadgets’. In addition to the steel sunscreen, features such as insulated Low-E glazing, recycled and recyclable materials, no VOC paint, R-19 insulated walls, R-30 insulated roof, passive insect control, construction waste recycling, and low impact native landscaping all work together to make the structure a healthy building for the residents and the community.
