Join us for December’s 101 event, where Juhee Lee-Hartford and James Hartford of River Architects will share hard-won insights from two decades of designing and delivering high-performance single-family Passive House projects. From stick-built homes to prefabricated assemblies, from historic retrofits to new modern builds, this session explores how rigorous performance goals can coexist beautifully with client needs, budgets, and aesthetics.
Drawing from real projects across the Hudson Valley and New York metro area, Juhee and James will walk us through their project delivery approach, the evolution of their Passive House practice, and the unique considerations that distinguish single-family work from multifamily. They’ll also unpack how they navigate the nuances of retrofit versus new construction, and historic versus modern contexts—essential knowledge for anyone working toward high-performance, low-carbon residential buildings.
Whether you're new to Passive House or looking to deepen your approach to single-family design, this 101 session offers practical strategies grounded in long-term practice and real project outcomes.
What You Will Learn
How River Architects built their Passive House practice, including early lessons, market entry, and evolving client demand.
Design + delivery strategies for single-family Passive House projects, from project delivery methods to balancing performance, aesthetics, and cost.
How context shapes decisions, comparing retrofit and new construction pathways, and navigating historic versus modern conditions.
Key distinctions between single-family and multifamily Passive House work, and what those differences mean for design, systems, and project execution.
Speakers:
Juhee Lee-Hartford, AIA, Managing & Founding Partner, River Architects
Juhee founded River Architects in 2002 and has led award-winning Passive House, net-zero, and sustainable projects including Seminary Hill, the world’s first Passive House cidery. She previously worked at HHPA on major cultural projects and is a Fulbright Fellow with a B.Arch. from Pratt.
James Hartford, AIA, CPHC, Partner, River Architects
James brings deep building-science expertise shaped by work on landmark projects including the Brooklyn Museum and Carnegie Hall. He holds an M.Arch. from the University at Buffalo and studied architecture in Darmstadt, Germany, where he developed a strong affinity for Passive House design.
This free presentation will take place on Wednesday, December 3rd at 9am PT / 12pm ET and will be followed by a lively Q+A session. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from industry leaders and engage with the PHA community. See you there!