“ The Passive House concept compels you to look at your building as an interconnected system”
- Andreas M. Benzing
Andreas M. Benzing
Andreas M. Benzing is a practicing architect, teacher, and social entrepreneur. Mr. Benzing is a distinguished faculty member and Part-Time Assistant Professor at Parsons School of Design, teaching Environmental Design and Design Studio to the next generation of architects. He is a co-founder of New York Passive House and cultivated a deep commitment to Passive House while serving as President and Executive Director. Mr. Benzing received the prestigious Urban Green Council’s National 2015 EBie Award "Power to the People" in recognition of the greatest percentage reduction in building energy use. As founder and Senior Partner of a.m.Benzing architects pllc, he personally directs the design of each of the firm's projects.
Mr. Benzing developed his tireless work ethic at the famous Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, where he received his Master of Architecture degree in 1998. He was awarded the European Erasmus Scholarship and studied architecture with Professor Giorgio Grassi at the Politecnico di Milano. Mr. Benzing established his career at O.M.Ungers, and Hans Kollhoff in Berlin, Germany learning the craft of the architectural profession. He founded a.m.Benzing architects pllc in 2006 with the expressed goal of integrating high performance Passive House building systems with architectural excellence.
Mr. Benzing is licensed to practice Architecture in New York State, New Jersey and Germany, and became a Certified Passive House Designer in 2009. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and has specialized training from the Building Performance Institute. Mr. Benzing was appointed by the Department of Buildings Commissioner to serve on the 2015 and 2019 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC) Residential Advisory Committee, and served on Manhattan`s Community Board 5, Land Use & Zoning committee.
SELECTED PROJECTS
Residence in Crane Berkley
Scarsdale, New York
A Passive House Dream Comes True
In 2016 I received a call from a new client, John, who had a dream to build a house. I immediately got the sense that he had a great analytical mind, as John spoke about his research into LEED and his ultimate decision, after further consideration, that his home must be a passive House
Residence on the Harbor
Mamaroneck, New York
Passive House in Different Climates : The Path to Net Zero
Unlike new construction, each retrofit project is a new puzzle. Can the bones of the old building be coaxed into shaping a much better-performing, more energy-efficient, and better-looking new building