Get to Know the Loën: One of the First Passive House Buildings in Somerville

65-71 Bow Street, Somerville, MA

Today, the Loën, one of the first multi-family Passive House buildings in Somerville, is in construction, with interior drywall installation about to begin. In a few months, though, it will be home to 24 residential dwelling units on four floor levels, ground floor retail and parking, and a common roof deck—a milestone for the city and for PQA.

From the start, the project set a high bar of achieving Passive House Institute (PHIUS) certification, a rare benchmark for development that we are proud to prioritize. Incorporated into the Passive House requirements are a high level of thermal insulation in exterior walls and roof, high level of air sealing at exterior envelope and between dwelling units, triple glazed uPVC windows, energy recovery ventilation systems, heat pump heating and cooling systems, electric cooking, and solar panels on the roof. All of these requirements significantly reduce a building’s energy consumption over its lifetime by an average of 40-60%.

In addition to meeting high standards for sustainability, the Loën project also included an adaptive reuse component. We restored and repurposed the existing historic pavilion on the site as an entrance to the residential building.

The Loën is located in Union Square, an energized and exciting neighborhood in Somerville, close to the brand-new Green Line train stop.