A Guided Site Tour with River Architects
Join River Architects and Phius Alliance NY for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of a Phius-certified passive house project in Gardiner, NY, led by River Architects Principal, James Hartford. This high-performance residence demonstrates how climate-specific building science, environmental responsibility, and architectural design are integrated into a cohesive, site-responsive solution.
James will guide attendees through the home, connecting key Passive House performance metrics—such as heating and cooling demand, airtightness, and source energy use—to the design and construction strategies implemented on the project. From superinsulated assemblies and continuous air barriers to all-electric mechanical systems and material selection, the tour will highlight both technical execution and design intent. Some unusual features we will discuss in this home are the integration of an indoor Endless Pool swim spa, a wood-burning fireplace, a green roof, and some tricky double-height window installation details.
Special guest Tomas Kocis of Yaro Windows and Doors will provide a short presentation and sponsor the evening. Builder Andy Van Dam will also be on-site to discuss construction sequencing, coordination, and quality control, offering insight into the realities of delivering a high-performance building. Tony Lisanti of Integral Building + Design will discuss the challenges of testing a building with unconventional aspects, as well as essential testing at critical junctures in the construction phase. Cramer Silkworth of Baukraft Engineering will discuss the unique challenges that he was presented in designing the mechanical system with an indoor pool, and make-up air for the kitchen extraction hood.
Designed for architects, builders, and consultants, this tour provides a practical, field-based learning experience that bridges Passive House theory with real-world application, strengthening participants’ ability to design, evaluate, and deliver Phius-certified projects.
Presenters
James Hartford, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC, CPHB
Partner, River Architects
James Hartford is the Creative and Technical Partner at River Architects, where he leads the firm’s building envelope and sustainability efforts, integrating Passive House, Net-Zero, and low-carbon strategies into high-performance design. His work spans single-family and multifamily Passive projects, deep-energy retrofits, and innovative Net-Zero developments, including the award-winning Seminary Hill Cidery, the world’s first Phius-certified organic cidery. A founder and past president of the Passive House Alliance US Hudson Valley Chapter, James has played a key role in advancing high-performance building education and training across New York State.
Tomas Kocis
Owner, Yaro Windows and Doors
Tomas Kocis is a Massachusetts-based business leader and Principal at YARO Windows + Doors, a full-service, high-performance envelope supply company with advanced expertise, specializing in Passive House certified window and door products.
Andrew VanDam
Owner, A.VanDam, LLC
Andy will be present to discuss construction methods and project execution. Andy has spent over 30 years building high-quality custom homes, with a foundation rooted in traditional construction. Five years ago, he was asked by a client to build his first Passive House, a project that fundamentally shifted his approach to building. Since then, Andy has focused exclusively on delivering high-performance homes that meet Passive standard principles. His work is driven by a commitment to craftsmanship, durability, and building science, with each project refining his expertise in high-performance construction. Andy’s practice is entirely referral-based, a reflection of the trust he’s built with clients and collaborators over decades in the field.
Tony Lisanti
Integral Building + Design- Phius Rater
Tony Lisanti, CEM, CPHC, is Managing Director of Integral Building & Design in Nyack, NY, and QA/QC Manager for Passive House Institute US (Phius). With over 40 years in energy and engineering, including 24 years in building science, he specializes in high-performance design, energy modeling, and Passive House certification. Tony brings deep expertise in energy code compliance, HERS ratings, and quality assurance across residential and multifamily projects, supporting low- and zero-energy buildings from concept through certification.
Cramer Silkworth
Baukraft Engineering
Cramer Silkworth is a licensed Mechanical Engineer in New York and Founder/Chief Engineer of Baukraft Engineering PLLC in Beacon, NY. A Certified Passive House Consultant & Trainer, he specializes in designing high-performance HVAC systems integrated with advanced building envelopes to achieve Passive House certification.
CEUs
This event is approved for 3 Phius CEUs. Self-report Phius CEUs HERE
Event Sponsors
River Architects
YARO Windows & Doors
Registration
Register on Eventbrite HERE
About Our Chapter
Phius Alliance New York State (Phius NYS) is the New York State chapter of Phius Alliance. Passive House professionals advocate for making ultra-low energy buildings a mainstream market force and an accepted best practice in the building industry. Phius Alliance NYS is your New York State resource for information about the passive house model and professionals who specialize in energy efficient design. Learn more at www.phiusny.org.