145 Warren Street

Worcester, MA

Owner: Civico Development | Location: Newton, MA
Completion Date: Summer 2024

Location

Newton, MA

Square Footage

15,960 sf

No. of Units

5

Completion Date

2024

The 145 Warren St project is a transit oriented infill project in downtown Newton, MA. Located near transit the project increases the density of housing in the area by providing Passive House certified, all-electric housing of the future. The site includes the historic renovation of an existing home in Unit 1 which will be all-electric and reduce energy use through additional insulation and air sealing. Unit 2 is a Phius Design Certified home built above the shared parking garage containing 3-bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms. Units 3-5 are contained in a single structure at the back of the property and have obtained a single Phius Design Certification. This structure contains 3 units total with 7 total bedrooms between the units each with their own entryways and access to a shared patio space.

Walls

Unit 3-5: 2.5” ZIP-R R-12 with R-21 batt, Unit 2: 4” R-24 polyiso + R-21 batt

Windows

Kohltech Supreme Casement U-0.1718, SHGC-0.612

Roof

Vaulted 9.5” spray foam with 3.5” R-21 exterior rigid board

Slab

14” Glavel foam glass R-24 under slab

Heating & Cooling

Minotair PentCare V12 + Mitsubishi ductless split supplement

Ventilation

(2) Minotair PentCare V12 systems per unit - 100% efficient ERV

Hot Water

Individual heat pump water heaters UEF-3.55

Appliances

All electric with condensing dryers

Lighting

All LED Efficient Lighting

Sustainable Comfort Impact

SCI serves as the Design Architect and Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) on the project as well as the General Contractor and Passive House Builder in charge of all construction activities. This design/build approach has led to synergies between the final design and construction phases to ensure the Passive House program details have been implemented throughout all stages of the project. This collaboration has navigated complex issues such as the tight site conditions, connections between an existing house, an underground parking garage with steel structural elements, and new construction wood frame buildings. The project includes innovative features such as foam glass insulation below the slab, a shared heating/cooling/ERV system in the Minotair PentCare system which provides 100% efficient energy recovery ventilation while serving some of the heating and cooling load of the apartments with supplemental mini spilts, and all electric hot water and appliances. SCI also acts as the Phius Verifier on the project working with Phius to ensure the construction process is completed and implemented properly, including all blower door testing at completion. The project is midway through construction targeting completion in 2024.