Overview
Located in Brooklyn’s exclusive Boerum Hill neighborhood, 210 Pacific Street epitomizes sustainable luxury. This residential multi-family housing project, completed in 2016, features high-end amenities and eco-friendly design. A pivotal aspect of this project was the collaboration between NAVA and Spengler Industries, specifically the contributions of President Erno Ovari.
Project Details
Location:
- Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, New York
Completion Year:
- 2016
Project Type:
- Residential Multi-Family Housing
Size:
- 28,000 sq ft
Developer + Architecture:
- NAVA
Structural Engineering:
- Severud Associates
MEP Engineering:
- DNV Associates
Key Collaboration: Spengler Industries and NAVA
A significant highlight of the 210 Pacific Street project was the cross-country collaboration between Stewart Osborne of NAVA and Erno Ovari, President of Spengler Industries. This partnership was instrumental in achieving the project’s ambitious goals.
The Initial Challenge: Before engaging with Spengler Industries, NAVA faced skepticism regarding the feasibility of pressing brass for the building’s façade. Many believed it couldn’t be done.
Spengler Industries’ Expertise:
- Quality Control: Ovari was overseeing another project’s quality control when he received the call from Osborne.
- Innovation and Problem-Solving: Ovari assured Osborne that pressing brass was possible and proceeded to demonstrate various techniques to achieve the desired results. Spengler Industries, under Ovari’s leadership, pressed, stretched, and worked the brass to deliver prototypes on schedule.
Prototype Development:
- The prototypes developed by Ovari’s team were twice as strong as NAVA’s initial specifications. Despite initial skepticism, NAVA’s engineering team confirmed the results, leading Osborne to approve and fund the production of 16,000 metal pieces for the building.
Final Execution:
- The project included two styles of tiles, rainscreen system elements, and fasteners. Remarkably, the final tiles were delivered two months ahead of schedule.
Advanced Rainscreen Technology
Erno Ovari, a master metal artisan with Germany’s highest accomplishment, brought decades of experience in rainscreen technology to the project. Rainscreens offer numerous benefits, including protection from wind, rain, and sound, as well as enhanced insulation due to the air column between the exterior skin and the wall.
Key Advantages:
- Wind and Rain Protection: Rainscreens effectively shield buildings from harsh weather conditions.
- Sound Insulation: The technology also provides soundproofing benefits.
- Thermal Insulation: Trapped air within the rainscreen system offers superior insulation properties.
Project Impact and Recognition
The successful execution of 210 Pacific Street’s innovative design garnered significant attention and accolades:
- Sales Success: Units at 210 Pacific Street sold swiftly, indicating strong market approval.
- Media Praise:
- The New York Times: Highlighted the energy-saving design.
- Copper Development Association: Honored it as one of the best architectural projects of the year.
- Dwell Magazine: Praised the modern yet contextual façade.
- New York YIMBY: Described the metal exterior as “exciting.”
- Carter Horsley: Renowned architecture critic, called it “very striking” and “jewel-like.”
Conclusion
The collaboration between NAVA and Spengler Industries, spearheaded by Erno Ovari, transformed a brilliant design idea into a tangible, award-winning reality. The project not only met but exceeded expectations, showcasing the power of innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship in creating sustainable luxury.
Erno Ovari reflects, “The architects came to us with a brilliant design idea, and we made it do-able.” This case study highlights the critical role of collaboration, expertise, and innovation in successful architectural projects.
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