Rebuilding New Orleans
Holy Cross Project
After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the inadequate response of the US Government, Global Green USA made a dedicated commitment to sustainable building in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. As part of that commitment, Global Green, in partnership with Brad Pitt, sponsored an international design competition during the summer of 2006, with more than 125 entries competing to design a zero energy affordable housing development in the Holy Cross Neighborhood of the Lower 9th Ward. See Competition Site
Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen of Workshop/APD in New York created the winning design. With the support of Lead Funding Partner Home Depot Foundation, Global Green is now working with Workshop/APD and a dedicated and highly skilled team of sustainable design and building experts together with the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association to translate the winning development proposal into a reality.
The Holy Cross Project consists of 5 single-family homes, an 18-unit apartment building, and a community center/sustainable design and climate action center. The goal of the project is to achieve LEED Platinum standards (LEED for Home for the single family homes and LEED NC for the other buildings), net zero energy and carbon neutral building. By using solar panels, high performance building design, HVAC systems, energy and resource monitoring systems, and energy efficient appliances, the buildings in the Holy Cross Project will use at least 75% less energy than typical buildings. In addition, Global Green is also exploring the use of river turbines in the adjacent Mississippi River.
Single Family Homes
The first home, finished in May 2008, will initially serve as a Visitor Center for developers, contractors and residents to learn how to rebuild green. After construction is completed on the majority the Project, the 5 single family homes will be first made available to and sold to displaced residents of the Holy Cross and 9th Ward communities. Global Green is working with the Holy Cross Neighborhood to create homeowner selection criteria, and identify and select qualified homebuyers. The homes will sell for an average price of $175,000 and Global Green plans to create a soft second mortgage financing option to help prospective buyers to bring the equivalent price to $150,000 or lower. The homes will save the residents an estimated $1200 to $2400 a year in utility bills, allowing lower income families to qualify for the mortgage as well. Using advanced monitoring systems in the home, residents can see their energy and resource consumption in real time, and if they choose, modify their behavior to further lower energy costs. Modest homeowner association fees will allow for residents to turn to the project manager to ensure the rain water harvesting, geothermal, solar and other systems are maintained properly and will continue to maximize savings.
18 Unit Apartment Building
The green affordable housing building will include outstanding views of the Mississippi River and downtown New Orleans, 75% to 90% lower energy bills and all the benefits healthy indoor air quality. These restricted income units will make it possible for low income residents and families to enjoy these unique apartments. It is estimated one bedroom apartments will rent for $550 a month and 2 bedroom apartments will rent for $650 a month. Global Green will seek applications from displaced residents of the 9th Ward.
Community Center/Sustainable Design and Climate Action Institute
Community Center – Community Services and Emergency Needs: The community center will feature a community services (e.g., ATM, corner market, etc.), a Visitor’s and Green Building Resource Center, an arts and cultural component, and an emergency center. For emergency needs, a rain water harvesting system will collect water (with filtration bringing it to drinking water standards), and solar panels on the roof of the Center will charge batteries that will provide power for emergency refrigeration (for medicines, etc.), lights and mobile phones in case residents are left without power or are unable to evacuate in an emergency.
Sustainable Design and Climate Action Institute: As a centerpiece of the project and Global Green’s ongoing presence in New Orleans, the institute would be a “Center of Excellence” for the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast that demonstrate all aspects of green building appropriate for the climate zone, while providing opportunities for sharing knowledge across the United States, and even globally. This will also be a gathering place for information, knowledge, and leadership generated by the sustainable design and green building activity in and around New Orleans and the response to Hurricane Katrina. University and research institute alliances will tie academic and professional programs tied to its ongoing work and focus. The monitoring of the buildings will also allow the institute to study the performance energy systems, energy conservation, IAQ, water efficiency, and system monitoring.
Outdoor Space
The interior courtyard will provide an outdoor gathering area for residents. A pathway through the project to the Mississippi River will have an interpretative learning component and children’s education area that connect to the river levee, community center, visitor’s center, and other sustainable landscaping features such as stormwater runoff capture and cisterns. These elements will be tied to the Visitor’s Center and be part of the experience for those that come to see the project.
PROJECT TEAM
Owner – Global Green USA: Matt Petersen, Walker Wells, Elizabeth Galante, Monica Gilchrist, Ruben Aronin, John Moore, Douglas and Andry Sustainable Building, LLC
Designer – Workshop/APD
Architect of Record - John C. Williams Architects, LLC
Landscape Designer – D.I.R.T Studio
Senior Advisor – Bob Berkebile / BNIM
Developer – Kathy Laborde, Gulf Coast Housing Partnership
Development Consultants – Matt Smith/CMC Enterprise, Carlton Brown/Full Spectrum of NY, LLC
Landscape Architect – Carlos Cashio, LLC
Contractor – Landis Construction Co., LLC
MEP Engineers – Supersymmetry USA, Moses Engineering
Structural Engineer – Morphy Makofsy, Inc
Civil Engineer – Julien Engineering
Energy Consultant – Think Energy, Inc
Building Science Consultant – Building Science Corporation