The Eastchester and Jackson Houses Design-Build Geothermal and Heating Upgrades project for the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) has received two of the nation’s highest honors for sustainable infrastructure innovation. The project was selected as one of eight prestigious Grand Award winners in the 2026 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards and earned an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Best of the Best Award for Sustainability. As Owner's Project Representative, CHA's Project Management and Construction Management (PMCM) team played a key role in guiding the successful delivery of this transformative public housing decarbonization initiative.
Developed in alignment with New York City and New York State climate goals, this $65 million initiative replaced aging heating infrastructure with a first-of-its-kind geothermal network that delivers reliable heating and domestic hot water while advancing sustainability, resilience, and energy equity. Delivered through a design-build approach led by CSA Group, the system serves 1,744 apartments across 17 residential buildings. At its core is a highly efficient, all-electric, closed-loop geothermal heat pump system that ranks among the largest geothermal installations in the Northeast and the first deployed at this scale within NYCHA’s portfolio.
As cities and public agencies accelerate efforts to reduce carbon emissions and modernize aging infrastructure, public housing presents both a critical opportunity and a complex challenge for building decarbonization. The geothermal heating and domestic hot water upgrades at Eastchester Gardens and Jackson Houses demonstrate how large-scale, occupied residential communities can transition successfully from fossil fuel-based systems to clean energy solutions while maintaining resident comfort and minimizing disruption.
The project has emerged as a national model for sustainable public housing infrastructure. Its selection as a 2026 ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards Grand Award winner represents one of the engineering profession's highest honors, recognizing projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation, complexity, and measurable societal impact. The project also received an ENR Best of the Best Award for Sustainability, one of the publication's most prestigious national recognitions. This honor follows the project's earlier designation as an ENR East Best Project in the Residential/Hospitality category and Regional Best Project for Sustainability.
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) represents nearly 5,500 firms employing more than 640,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors, highly trained specialists, and licensed professionals who design and improve our world. ACEC is a federation of 51 state and metropolitan Member Organizations that advocate for America’s engineering companies and promote their essential value to society. Learn more at ACEC’s official website.
For over 150 years, Engineering News-Record (ENR) has empowered construction professionals—from contractors and design firms to project owners, government agencies, and industry suppliers—with the insights they need to excel in a dynamic industry. ENR provides unparalleled access to the latest news, groundbreaking project stories, and in-depth regional market analysis. Learn more at ENR's official website.