OLIN is a core design and planning member of the Red Hook Housing restoration plan led by Kohn Pedersen Fox. During Hurricane Sandy, residents lost heat, power, and in some cases water, with many stranded in their apartments or unable to return for weeks. The storm permanently damaged the majority of the electrical and heating systems, and most of the buildings are still using temporary boilers. As part of a comprehensive Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Resilience (CBDG-DR), NYCHA commissioned OLIN to improve the livability and resilience of the houses and campus in light of climate change. The resulting design, now in construction, introduces strategies that better prepare the campus to withstand the next superstorm. These include elevated areas (or “lily pads”) between buildings, passive flood barriers, and improved systems for underground drainage and water storage. Accessible routes, reconfigured courtyard spaces, twelve new playgrounds, and greater porosity between the campus and neighborhood also aim to support the social and physical wellness of the resident community, which has faced chronic underinvestment for decades. Construction of the project is anticipated to conclude in mid-2025.
