La Central

Organization Name: FXCollaborative

Project Title: La Central

Project Location: Bronx, NY

Project Description:
Encompassing 1.2 million SF of development in the South Bronx, La Central presents a new paradigm of equitable and sustainable urbanism. Once completed, this neighborhood within a neighborhood will be a thriving mixed-income, mixed-use development with 1,077 units of affordable housing in 5 buildings, including 160 units of supportive housing, a new YMCA, BronxNet television studios, a telescope for Bronx High School of Science, skate park, and a variety of retail, community uses, and landscaped open space. La Central marries sustainable residential architecture with vibrant community spaces. Sustainability, resiliency, and active design principles are fully integrated with on-site cogeneration, extensive photovoltaic panels, and especially high-performing building envelopes. Buildings are organized around a central verdant open space; landscape amenities include an urban farm—operated by GrowNYC and multiple roof terraces. The 5 buildings relate to the character of the Bronx neighborhood while infused with enlivening contemporary features that establish a vibrant street wall and create an identity and sense of place that speak to La Central’s mission of providing homes and fostering community.

Community Impact:
The mixed-income, mixed-use complex will create a new community within a community. La Central transforms the large expanse of vacant land into much-needed quality affordable housing in a redeveloping neighborhood, while including space for local organizations, a diversity of outdoor environments for use by residents and visitors, and retail to support the surrounding population. The five buildings’ organization, materials, variety, and scale allow La Central to integrate into the existing Bronx neighborhood and grid pattern. Exterior façades echo the traditional forms and warm palette of surrounding brick buildings, and rich textures of brick with accents of metal panels establish a vibrant street wall. Furthermore, the development is sensitive to the larger community with its incorporation of sustainability features such as photovoltaic arrays and green roofs for energy efficiency. Important corners of the buildings are marked by visible solar PV canopies. The supportive housing building by Breaking Ground/Comunilife, the first of La Central’s five buildings to be opened, complies with Enterprise Green Communities and will achieve about 18% energy savings.

Organization Description:
La Central includes public, private, and non-profit development partners including the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development; BRP Companies; Hudson Companies; ELH Management; Breaking Ground; Comunilife; and YMCA of Greater New York. HPD is the largest municipal housing preservation and development agency in the nation and is responsible for developing and maintaining the city’s stock of affordable housing. Its mission is to promote the quality and affordability of the city’s housing and the strength and diversity of its neighborhoods.

Team Members:

FXCollaborative Architects LLP, Design Architect
MHG Architects PC, Executive Architect

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