Swift House
Education meets community leadership in LaCrosse's first certified Passive House project.
Western Technical College is a key educational institution in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Under the umbrella of construction-related studies, Western frequently develops typical family homes to expose students to hands-on practice in the field. The Swift House project—named for the Chimney Swifts that reside on the urban brown field property—departs from standard construction, and elevates both the educational content as well as the built home to the ultra-comfortable, high-performance, low-energy building practices set forth by the Passive House building energy and GreenStar standards. TE Studio/ Intep provided workshops for students and the community over a multi-year period of time, as well as the design and engineering services for the home.
Now privately owned, TE Studio also provided services for the conversion from educational facility to home for a family of five in 2020.
Project Feature
On October 23, 2013, TE Studio hosted a live and online webinar about the project.
Passive House Feature October 23, 2013
Groundbreaking with college students
Foam panels for insulated foundation
Concrete basement wall
Exterior insulation system for basement
Wood frame construction
Exterior secondary wall cavity for insulation
Shade box for exterior motorized blinds
Heat recovery ventilation system
Continuously insulated plumbing system
Solar hot water system components
Electrical meter, ventilation ports, heat pump
New home for the Chimney Swifts
Certifications and Highlights
Certified Passive House - Project ID 2857
HERS Index 5-star (top category)
GreenStar Gold (new home)
Home used for education and published in a number of articles
Super-insulated, airtight building envelope (0.47 ACH50)
Passive House windows with triple-pane glazing and motorized exterior shading
Thermal bridge-free detailing and construction
Whole-house, balanced, enthalpy heat-recovery ventilation system
Electric air-to-air heat pump system for heating and cooling with electric backup
Solar thermal domestic hot water system with continuously insulated pipes
8.5 kWp photovoltaic system on roof; grid-tied
LED lighting throughout
FSC certified lumber, no-VOC paints and finishes, real wood siding, standing seam metal roofing
Sustainable landscaping and extensive stormwater management with rain gardens
Nesting chimney for Chimney Swift population on site
Urban infill, rehab of a brownfield site
Walkable neighborhood
Project Details
Type: Free-standing single family home demonstration project
Location: LaCrosse Wisconsin, urban infill/ brownfield restoration
Construction: New construction, mixed concrete and wood
Passive House Design: TE Studio/ Intep
Interior: TE Studio/ Intep & ID-ology
Mechanical: TE Studio/ Intep & Mike Wilson, DSG Supply
Structural: Eric Bunkers, Bunkers and Associates
Builder: Fowler & Hammer
Project: 2012–2014
Photo Credits:
Corey Gaffer, Gaffer Photography
Paul Ziehm, Fowler & Hammer
TE Studio/ Intep
Owners
