Affordable Multi-Family Firehouse Retrofit
Entry for the Solar Decathlon 2025
Project Brief
Boston, MA - Multi-Family Housing
Professor Troy Peters - Spring 2025
In collaboration with Raissa Cabeza, Francesca Bosio, Shane Gaudette, Lily Cohen
Programs Used
Rhino3D, Enscape, Photoshop, Illustrator
Project Description
Eco18 is a net-zero adaptive reuse of a vacant historic fire station in Dorchester, reimagined as affordable housing centered around communal space. The project positions reuse as both an environmental and social strategy, preserving neighborhood history while addressing accessibility, affordability, and long-term resilience. Two fully accessible residential units are organized around a ground-floor community room and garden, treating shared space as essential infrastructure. Passive House–level envelope upgrades and on-site renewable energy enable energy efficient operation, eliminating costs and aligning environmental performance with housing equity.
The need for Accessible Affordable Housing...
Boston
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Dorchester
“Almost one-fourth of land in Greater Boston is publicly owned, with about 40 percent of that land vacant and not reserved for conservation.”
-2024 Greater Boston Housing Report Card
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Site: Torent Engine 18
An abandoned firehouse in the heart of Dorchester
- well located to Boston transit
- situated in a residential area
- large plot of unused exterior space
Site History
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Design Approach
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Residential wrapped in Community
Rather than maximizing units alone, the design prioritizes shared spaces, accessibility, and long-term affordability
Design Ethics
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Commitment to community
Universal comfort + inclusivity
Resilient and low-energy performance
1 : Commitment to Community
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community room rendering
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unit 2
low-vision accessible
level 2
unit 1
community room
handicap-accessible
community garden
site plan
level 1
Community Accessible Garden in collaboration with the local food bank
section a: pictures community room and garden
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site
food bank
2 : Universal Comfort + Inclusivity
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handicap-accessible unit rendering
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kitchen accessibility
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level 1 kitchen
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2 : Resilience + low-energy performance
section b: illustrates both units and community room
passive and active additions
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existing wall assembly
Total Thickness (in): 16.0
Total R-Value: 3.9
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proposed wall assembly
Total Thickness (in): 22.6
Total R-Value: 36
improved assembly
(+ 30.1 improvement!)
riveirap@wit.edu