The new Davis Center at the revamped Harlem Meer creates a community hub that reconnects Harlem with the rest of Central Park. Atelier Ten developed passive strategies to optimize the pavilion and surrounding site for energy efficiency, water conservation and thermal comfort in New York’s four seasons.
Informed by extensive community engagement, the Davis Center prioritizes year round access to nature, recreation and wellness. Atelier Ten worked with the team to optimize the building massing for thermal comfort throughout the year. The new recreation facility is tucked into the landscape, extending the park over the roof and providing thermal mass and passive cooling.
The northwest building orientation shades and cools the building in the summer. In the winter, low angle sun enters the interior space allowing for passive heat gain. The concrete wall and roof pre-cool overnight and reduce the hours of active conditioning during the day. The high performance envelope, exhaust air energy recovery and efficient condensing hot water boilers further reduce heating energy costs.
Given the importance of water to the site topography, water conservation was a major project focus. Atelier Ten conducted a sitewide water balance and developed passive strategies to reduce water consumption and stormwater runoff. Low flow fixtures reduce water demand by 38%. In New York’s rainy months, stormwater is captured by the native vegetation and porous hardscapes and ultimately replenishes the Harlem Meer.
