Sewickley Residence

Our intent for the Sewickley Residence was to successfully incorporate all the elements of high-performance architecture—sustainability, energy efficiency, resiliency, and well-being—into a renovation/expansion meant to reflect the ideal of design for the public good. With a rooftop solar array that brings the home to near-net-zero levels, an emphasis on indoor air quality and healthy water, and all-electric utilities that eliminate carbon emissions, the Sewickley Residence ultimately achieved our goal of high-performance optimization.

One of the biggest challenges the design team faced was executing a comprehensive expansion within the constraints of the site. After receiving a zoning variance approval, the team reimagined the space, and ultimately, the renovation doubled the square footage of what had formerly been a cramped two-bedroom house. At the same time, the design focused on limiting fossil fuel usage and conserving energy, two important factors in mitigating climate change at a grassroots level.

By imaginatively reconfiguring a constrictive existing footprint, our team transformed a previously threadbare structure into a high-performance home with a streamlined, modernist look.

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Details

Architecture Firm: Studio St. Germain

Project Team: Nathan St. Germain, AIA, CPHC, RESET® Air AP; Ben Nahum, Assoc. AIA, CPHC; Brian Gardner

Contractor: JC Enterprises, Inc, John Christian - General Contractor

Engineers: Keystone Structural Solutions, Marc Peterson - Structural Engineer

Photographer: Ed Massery