Hanac Pre-Kindergarten

CTA was tasked with designing a new pre-kindergarten school in an unoccupied space at HANAC, a senior residential facility in Corona, Queens. We aimed to create a building that would meet Passive House standards, prioritizing energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort. We knew this would be a challenging project, as we had to ensure that the design met the requirements of both Passive House and the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA).

In collaboration with the building architect and the SCA, we created a design that included three classrooms, a nurse's office, administrative spaces, and a play yard. We made sure to incorporate features that would enhance the energy efficiency of the building and systems that would promote excellent indoor air quality and comfort for the students and staff.

We are proud to have contributed to the City’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Initiative by designing the first Passive House pre-kindergarten in the United States. This project provides an excellent learning environment for young children and serves as a model for future sustainable school designs.