Ryan Biggs | Clark Davis provided pro-bono structural design services for two houses in Syracuse for Habitat for Humanity and the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Upstate New York Chapter.
The houses are constructed with highly insulated concrete block exterior walls and wood roof construction. The concrete block (CMU) construction provides the houses with longevity and durability.
Energy costs were reduced through high efficiency floor heating, high insulation values, and thermal mass storage capacity of block construction.
Vaulted ceilings allow natural light from skylights to reach the ground floor.
The construction and layout of the houses allows for a feeling of generous space despite the small square footage.
The costs of the two houses are shared between the Habitat for Humanities Syracuse and the support and donation of MCAA and many sponsors. All of the construction services were provided in kind, and all of the planning of the project was completed pro bono.
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2017, with an anticipated move-in date for residents of both houses of Fall 2017.
