Staten Island, NY

Inclusive and Sustainable Public Housing Transformation at Todt Hill Houses

Client: New York City Housing Authority
Our Role: Design Lead

Modern kitchen at Todt Hill Houses with stainless steel appliances, blue accent wall, and resident-selected finishes.

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) prioritized urgent modernization of its aging housing stock, with the 70-year-old Todt Hill Houses, an affordable housing development on Staten Island, emerging as a top focus. Home to more than 1,000 public housing residents across seven buildings and 502 apartments, Todt Hill had long struggled with deteriorating living conditions, including outdated building systems, mold, lead-based paint, poor ventilation, and persistent maintenance issues.

NYCHA sought design approaches to transform the physical infrastructure and meaningfully involve residents in shaping healthier, safer homes that reflect their lived experiences and evolving needs.

Our multidisciplinary team provided architectural design and engineering services focused on improving infrastructure and everyday livability for this $150 million design transformation, among the first of NYCHA’s ambitious program to sustainably improve public housing and support affordable housing in New York City.

Collaborating with the Community Modernization Group (CMG), NYCHA’s selected design-build team, we prioritized resident engagement throughout the project. CMG facilitated hands-on design workshops, virtual tours, and in-person sessions, enabling residents to shape the vision and details of their future homes.

The design team incorporated Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant bathrooms, modern amenities, energy-efficient features, upgraded systems, and thorough remediation of health hazards. A phased construction plan minimizes disruption while accelerating delivery and value. At the heart of the project is the organization’s commitment to dignity, safety, universal design, and inclusivity: transforming public housing into a model for sustainable, resident-centered design that considers the range of needs that come with human diversity.

Key Features

User-driven design guided key decisions, as occupants participated in multiple design workshops where they selected interior finish palettes and provided feedback on layouts, colors, materials, features, and design systems.
Incorporates inclusive design elements such as lowered countertops, accessible intercoms at entrances, contrasting colors to support residents with visual impairments, and electronic notification systems for those with hearing impairments.
Elevator modernization efforts feature new emergency return systems, voltage regulators, and remote monitoring technology to enhance safety and ensure long-term reliability.
Enhanced storage and functionality with expanded closet space in bedrooms, optimized kitchen layouts, and enlarged bathrooms to accommodate water-saving fixtures.

Outcomes

Over 1,000 residents will benefit from a safer, healthier, and more dignified living environment. The project includes lead-based paint removal, mold remediation, ventilation upgrades, pest control improvement, and new energy-efficient windows.
Phased construction planning ensures that the seven-building development remains operational during renovations, reducing displacement and inconvenience.
Design-build efficiency accelerates the construction timeline, improves quality control, and minimizes disruption to residents throughout the renovation process.
Infrastructure upgrades support long-term building resiliency while significantly improving day-to-day livability.
The project sets a new benchmark for inclusive design in public housing, showcasing how meaningfully engaged residents and a collaborative process can shape transformative outcomes. This is evidenced by the high excitement and support from over 400 community members who visited the full-scale mock apartment and expressed pride in the changes to come.
This resident-first design approach offers a blueprint for future developments aimed at serving mixed-income families by demonstrating how resident-centered strategies can benefit households across the economic spectrum.