Syracuse Housing Authority west side building to undergo energy retrofits in project

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Housing Authority’s (SHA) seven-story elderly high-rise located at 418 Fabius St. will pilot a new technology that will make it possible to do large-scale energy retrofits from the exterior using prefabricated modular panels.

SHA called it a “monumental leap towards sustainable urban living,” per its Nov. 14 announcement.

The authority is working in partnership with the Syracuse University Center of Excellence along with Hydronic Shell Technologies; Cycle Architecture + Planning; and BlocPower, all of New York City, on the project.

SHA says the $3 million grant for the project comes from the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge, a $20 million nationwide competition to find and seed innovative housing solutions funded and administered by Enterprise Community Partners and the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Hydronic Shell Technologies won the $3 million grant, per a Nov. 14 announcement from Wells Fargo.

The high-efficiency system, which is described as the “first of its kind in the world,” will replace a “soon-to-be-obsolete” boiler system; reduce carbon-dioxide emissions while improving indoor air quality; lower energy bills; and enable residents to remain in place throughout the process.

Not only will residents remain in place throughout the retrofit, but they will also “have a say” in choosing the prefabricated modular panels, “controlling their building’s outward appearance,” SHA noted.

“We express our deepest gratitude to Enterprise Community Partners, the Wells Fargo Foundation, Syracuse University, Hydronic Shell Technologies, Cycle Architecture + Planning, and BlocPower for partnering with us on a groundbreaking initiative to decarbonize and modernize our James Geddes high-rise and improve the lives of our residents for years to come,” William Simmons, executive director of the Syracuse Housing Authority, said in the authority’s news release. “We will continue to think outside of the box for solutions to the affordable housing crisis.”

SHA is a public housing and affordable-housing provider, serving families throughout the city of Syracuse and Onondaga County.