The latest firm to become an Accelerator Partner is River Architects. Renowned for their work in regions throughout the New York metropolitan area, this Cold Spring-based, full-service architecture and design studio has been responsible for numerous high-performance and Phius-certified retrofits and new builds. Founded by managing principal Juhee Lee-Hartford, River Architects is proud to be a New York State-certified Woman/Minority-Owned Business, as well a staple within the Passive House community. Principal and architect James Hartford founded Phius Alliance of Hudson Valley, which has recently become the Phius chapter for the entire state (as Phius Alliance New York).

Regular readers of Passive House Accelerator magazine will certainly recognize several River Architects projects.

More About Bank Lofts

The Bank Lofts received Phius design Certification in December 2023 and completed construction in September 2024. River Architects is currently in the process of submitting the documents and test results for final certification. The project is also a recipient of the Carbon Neutral Community Development grant and the Buildings of Excellence Early Design Support program, both of which are administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

By injecting new life into the local landmark, the Bank Lofts team hopes to help mainstream green development while creating a fresh surge of optimism that will encourage more people to live, visit, support businesses, and create job opportunities in a once-affluent Otsego County community they believe is primed for an architectural, cultural, and economic renaissance.