Myers Heckman

The Myers-Heckman Residence is a LEED Platinum renovation and addition to an 1870 townhouse in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. Its historic status was a key driving force behind the design. The design seeks to respect the historic architecture while allowing the new interventions to be distinctly contemporary -- all while significantly upgrading the home’s performance.

The addition wraps the rear and top floor of the existing townhouse. The vertical joint between old and new is articulated by a three-story curtainwall and by an interior staircase that exposes and celebrates the rough stone foundation. A contemporary kitchen is juxtaposed with exposed brick and original wood flooring; similar existing details were preserved and restored throughout the home.

The renovation reduced energy use 68% from existing conditions by incorporating continuous rigid insulation on the walls, robust air sealing, R-50 roof insulation, and new high-performance windows. Window trim, baseboards, and wainscoting were removed, restored, and reinstalled, making the insulation imperceptible while also contributing to material reuse. The home is 100% electric, with an efficient ground source heat pump providing heating, cooling, and preheating for domestic hot water. A 9.9kW solar array supplies the majority of the home’s energy needs.

The reuse of an existing structure was itself an important sustainability strategy, avoiding the embodied energy and carbon of building a new structure. The home reused a significant portion of the existing building, including foundation, walls, flooring, and interior trim – and celebrated this reuse in the design. Restoring the building also contributes to the revitalization and preservation of Over-the-Rhine, an important cultural artifact for Cincinnati.

This vibrant urban context, in turn, supports a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. Close proximity to numerous community amenities, open space, parks, and public transportation -- including the Cincinnati streetcar, which runs on the street directly outside the home, and Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest continually operating market -- enable a car-free life and connection with the community.

Despite a small yard and compact site, the home also addresses stormwater and ecology. The home manages 65% of runoff from its roof on-site with a 550 gallon cistern buried in the backyard. The harvested rainwater is used for irritation and allowed to infiltrate into the soil, mimicking natural hydrology. The yard contains no conventional turf grass, and is instead planted with native and adapted plants which provide habitat for pollinators and butterflies -- as well as a relaxing oasis for the homeowners.

Many of the sustainability measures also improve indoor environmental quality. Electrification avoids combustion and the pollutants it produces. An ERV provides fresh, filtered air to occupants; and MERV 13 air filters are used in all HVAC systems. The cooling system is designed to control humidity, avoiding potential durability and mold issues. And low-emitting interior finishes were used throughout.

The result is a super-efficient, comfortable, and healthy home that serves as an example of how much can be accomplished within the constraints of an historic building and a dense urban site.