67 Brighton 1st Ln

Bright ’n Green is a new six-story residential building developed by Robert Scarano and designed by a team from Scarano Architects led by Yuriy Menzak, located on a pedestrian-only lane in the Brighton Beach neighborhood in Brooklyn. The building is one of the few projects in New York City to receive all three certifications (LEED, Net Zero, and Passive House).  The building’s power is generated in-house using solar panels and wind turbines; it is “net positive,” meaning it produces a surplus of energy that can be returned to the grid. The building has earned EPA and OER certifications and received the prestigious Green Site Award from the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation. Additionally, it has achieved National Green Building Standard™ Green Certified status at the Emerald level and achieved 4 out of 4 Green Globes Certification from the Green Building Initiative. In addition, Bright ‘n Green is a candidate for both European and American Passive House certifications.”

The structural system consists of composite lightweight concrete on metal-deck floors, supported by steel beams and columns. Due to the proximity to the shore, the building was designed to comply with FEMA flood regulations and to withstand high wind pressures. A separate exterior steel structure was designed to support the solar panel and wind turbine system, with minimal penetrations of the building’s exterior shell. Cristian Vimer was in charge of the structural design, in collaboration with Alex Marin of Marin Consulting Engineering. An interview with both engineers is featured here.

The commercial/retail components are located on the cellar, first, and second floors, supporting a hotel building flanked by the ten-story residential tower above