1701 Albemarle Road is a six-story, 84-unit prewar cooperative in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park South neighborhood. As part of an energy-upgrade program, the building is modernizing its domestic hot water infrastructure to improve reliability for residents and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in alignment with New York City decarbonization goals, including Local Law 97.

ELECSYS provided plumbing and electrical design services to convert the domestic hot water system from fossil-fuel equipment to a fully electrified, high-efficiency solution. The project replaced the existing plant with an air-source heat pump system designed for year-round operation in New York’s climate, including exterior heat pump units, heat exchangers, insulated storage tanks, and a swing tank to support peak demand.

Within tight cellar space and existing building constraints, ELECSYS designed new hydronic and domestic water piping, circulation pumps, and controls to integrate the upgraded plant. Because the electrified system increased electrical demand, the scope also included a new electrical service and distribution upgrades to support heat pump equipment and associated auxiliaries. Design elements included service entrance equipment, distribution panels, feeders, and branch circuits, along with code-compliant grounding, lighting, and life-safety provisions in mechanical and service areas.

Working in an occupied residential building, the team planned constructable phasing and carefully sequenced cutovers to maintain domestic hot water throughout installation. Acoustic and vibration considerations, access and service clearances, and long-term maintainability were also addressed as part of the design.

For the cooperative, the project supports more stable hot water service, reduced exposure to fossil-fuel price volatility, and a meaningful reduction in operational carbon footprint—demonstrating a practical pathway for prewar multi-family building electrification.