creative • integrated • sustainable
VanKeuren Square
Syracuse, NY

VanKeuren Square

New Residential Facility
  • New 50-unit permanent supportive housing facility for Veterans.
  • The building incorporated sustainable materials and was designed to achieve NYSERDA Energy Star Certifications.  The Owner is pursuing LEED for Homes Gold Certification.
  • Site work included green strategies such as porous asphalt in parking spaces, permeable pavers for a patio area, and native trees and shrubs.
  • Green strategies for storm water management take advantage of the site topography with dry swales and a visually appealing terraced bio-retention area alongside the building, consisting of various native plants, stones and boulders.
  • Half of the building's roof water and all nearby pavement areas are captured into swale and bio-retention areas to promote infiltration.
  • The remaining half of the roof surface captures storm water to a 12,000 gallon rainwater harvesting tank for graywater reuse inside the building.
  • A Storm Water Management and Erosion and Sediment Control Plan was required and subsequently approved by the City of Syracuse.
  • Walks provide access to the building from two separate parking areas that take advantage of existing topographical condition, and to public bus transportation in front of the building.
  • Site amenities include lighted flagpole, private patio area with outdoor cooking grills, bicycle racks, benches and trash receptacles.
  • A Green Improvement Fund Application was prepared and ultimately received funding through the Onondaga County Save the Rain Program.