Play Arts

Completed 2016

ABOUT | Built in 1907, this once public bath house at Front and Thomson Streets sits at the cross roads of three neighborhoods: Fishtown, South Kensington, and Northern Liberties. Closed as a public pool in 1960 and finally abandoned in 1992, it quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Today, a locally grown, play-based arts and enrichment center for kids and their parents sits within. This modern-industrial space hosts art and music instruction, adventure-based play, and a small café. It is one of many structures that has sprung up beneath the EL to revitalize the Front Street corridor. This project was designed as a Passive House level, deep-energy retrofit. A Passive House approach enables electricity as the power source for PlayArts, creating a truly sustainable project leading towards a more resilient local community.

THE NUMBERS | Original year built: 1915. Renovated in 1969 (roof structure and some walls replaced). Retrofit completed 2016. | Area: 4,025 square feet | R-Values: R21 Exterior Walls, R42/49 Roofs

COMPONENTS/SYSTEMS | Karsten Tube testing: 475 High Performance Building Supply | Airsealing: Pro Clima Intello Plus air barrier and smart vapor retarder | Insulation: Dense-packed cellulose (walls), polyiso rigid foam (roof) | Mechanical ventilation: (4) Ultimate Air 200DX (30-200 CFM) RecoupAerator ERVs | Heating + cooling: (11) Mitsubishi ductless mini split units paired with (11) outdoor condensers staged for scalability. | Hot water:40 gallon GE Geospring hybrid electric heat pump

Photos by Kristen Zubriski