There Goes the Neighborhood: How a NZE Passive House Changed the Culture of a Community

In 2019 a small, single family house was sold to a family excited to be part of a trailblazing and strangely controversial project. Many net zero energy (NZE) and/or Passive House examples have now been completed across the US. This project and initiative not only serves as an example for students and evolving pedagogy, but also has become a touchstone in the community, challenging the preconceptions of modern design, neighborhood investment, homebuilding practice, and the public image of a university grappling with an evolving design culture. This paper will focus on the larger impact that the house continues to have on both the community and university.

Keywords: Architectural Education, Sustainability + High Performance Built Environments, Passive House, Design-Build