Designing a Passive House-Training Center for Boys and Girls High School

The Designing a Passive House-Training Center for Boys and Girls High School project proposes the development of an architectural design to establish a Passive House-Training Center at Boys and Girls High School (BGHS) in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. By focusing on the energy-efficient building science principles of Passive House—known for drastically reducing a building’s carbon footprint while maximizing comfort, health, and resiliency—BGHS Career & Technical Education students will gain advanced sustainable building skills, expanding their career and educational opportunities in the rapidly growing green economy. In doing so, these students will actively support NYC’s decarbonization goals, as outlined in PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done, and contribute to the establishment of Green Talent & Workforce training centers across all NYC boroughs, as detailed in the Green Economy Action Plan.

Led by In Cho, Pratt Undergraduate Architecture Visiting Assistant Professor and Sustainability Coordinator, and founder of the non-profit Passive House For Everyone (PHFE), alongside Pratt architecture students and BGHS faculty, this initiative will focus on developing comprehensive architectural designs based on BGHS’s accepted preliminary concept for the training center. These designs will be used to secure funding for construction and implementation.

The training center will immerse students in hands-on learning across Architectural Drafting, Electrical Installation, Computer Programming, and the new HVAC Decarbonization pathways, all centered on the energy-efficient principles of Passive House. These skills are vital for laying the groundwork for a clean energy transition. Ultimately, this initiative aims to empower the next generation to take active roles in shaping a resilient and thriving future.