Alafia is a new wellness-oriented resilient development designed to address a historically underserved area’s chronic social, economic, and health disparities. As part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn initiative, Dattner Architects in partnership with SCAPE designed a master plan that outlines the phased redevelopment of a 25+acre decommissioned public site and is now completing construction on the first buildings. The project illustrates how passive house principles can also be applied to the masterplan scale.
DATE: Wednesday April 23rd 2025
TIME: 12:00PM - 1:00PM EST
VENUE: Webinar
Deniz Secilmis: A New Yorker, Deniz Secilmis is committed to bringing sustainability, design, and economy to the forefront through her work. She enjoys seeing projects through from start to finish—beginning with the big picture and getting into the details of design and construction. She has experience working on a breadth of projects with her focus on High Performance and Passive House buildings.
Jen Switala: Dedicated to socially responsible design, Jen believes that architecture evokes something different in each individual, and that this creates a meaningful complexity to the urban realm. Jen is Chair of Dattner Architects’ R&D Co-Lab, the firm’s research and development group, focused on examining vital issues confronting our urban environment. She has gained experience in a variety of project typologies, including affordable and supportive housing, mixed-use buildings, and cultural institutions.
Julia Howe: is a Senior Associate at SCAPE. Her work encompasses a range of scales and project types, and she has worked extensively on public projects in the NYC area and affordable housing sites. She has a particular interest in the design of vibrant urban spaces that improve neglected areas and regenerate ecosystem health.