Cross Street Passive House

Phius REVIVE 2024 Rowhouse in Design

Resources

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Passive House Accelerator podcast 'GBU Revive Panel'

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GBU Blog - A Crosswalk Exploration of Phius REVIVE and Living Future CORE

This gut-retrofit of a 2-story brick rowhouse in South Philly adds a third story with a walk-out deck and a future solar canopy. The project features continuous insulation and air barrier at the interior of the existing brick structure, with a wood-framed third-story addition with continuous insulation and air barrier at the exterior of the roof sheathing.

The project, a 984 sq. ft., 2-story brick rowhouse built circa 1910, features a rear kitchen addition circa 1950. The home was gutted due to a fire in the house next door in May 2023. Facing south on a 16-foot-wide and 48-6-foot-deep lot, the retrofit and renovation is being designed under the Philadelphia building code (2018 IRC). The renovation includes a third-floor addition with walk-out and rooftop decks, adding 270 sq. ft. of interior space.

The project design is guided by several key sustainability values, including all-electric construction with no combustion appliances, continuous HEPA-filtered fresh air through an ERV system, foam-free construction with wood fiber insulation where possible, and preservation of the existing brick finish, masonry, and wood structure wherever feasible.

The project is currently seeking Phius REVIVE 2024 certification.

The project was featured as a case study in a six-part demonstration/learning series presented in 2024-2025 by the Passive House and Living Futures Communities of Green Building United.