RPA’s Niantic Net Zero House Wins Honor Award in American Institute of Architects Northeastern Pennsylvania Design Awards Program

Richard Pedranti Architect, a premier architecture firm pioneering energy-efficient architecture for modern living, has earned multiple recognitions for two recently completed high-performance residential projects. This fall, the firm received an award from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA NEPA) and two Builder Magazine 2025 Builder’s Choice Design Awards.

The Niantic Net Zero House, located on the Connecticut coast, was named an Honor Award winner by AIA NEPA. The organization’s Design Awards program, held every other year, celebrate the creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness of architects practicing within the nine-county jurisdiction of the chapter. RPA principal, Richard Pedranti, accepted the award at the organization’s Evening of Excellence ceremony last month.

According to AIA NEPA award jurors, the Niantic Net Zero House exemplifies thoughtful environmental design with a deep connection to its coastal setting. The jurors added: Its passive house and net zero strategies reflect an impressive commitment to sustainability matched by warm materiality, beautiful natural light, and a clarity of zoning and massing. The coastal home was also honored as a Merit Winner in the competitive 2025 Builder’s Choice Design Awards. Sponsored by Builder Magazine, the annual competition honors innovation and excellence in residential design and construction.

The Montem Villam Passive House was recognized as a Merit Winner in the 2025 Builder’s Choice Design Awards, which honored a total of 14 Merit winners across the country this year. Applying rigorous building science principles, this Passive House in the Pennsylvania mountains maximizes panoramic views and features a fully electric system powered by solar. Durable materials guarantee longevity, peak energy efficiency, and exceptional client living. This home was also spotlighted as project case study by Custom Builder, a respected residential building construction publication.

Richard Pedranti emphasized his firm’s dedication to sustainable architectural achievements. “Receiving honors from both the AIA and Builder Magazine underscores RPA’s commitment to excellence in high-performance sustainable design,” said Pedranti. “This recognition confirms the value of designing projects that strive for high-energy performance and comfort through the rigorous application of passive house principles, while also serving the vision of the homeowners.”

The Niantic Net Zero House was built in partnership with Bruce Lawrence of Bluewater Millwork & Construction. “We are proud to have partnered with RPA to achieve this outstanding, energy-efficient outcome on the Connecticut coast,” said Lawrence. “The success of this exceptional project is shared by all of the fantastic collaborators whose efforts were fundamental to its net zero achievement.” The project utilized premium materials including triple-pane windows from Mavrik, an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) from Zehnder America, an air-source heat pump from Mitsubishi, and premium wood siding from Delta Millworks.

The Montem Villam Passive House, constructed by Louis Costanzo of L.R. Costanzo Construction Services Co., Inc., is also the homeowner. The collaboration on this project resulted in the Merit recognition from the Builder’s Choice Design Awards. “As both builder and homeowner, the vision for Montem Villam was driven by a deep commitment to high-performance building standards,” said Costanzo. “We thank RPA for their design that led to this recognition, demonstrating the great achievements possible when homeowners commit to award-winning sustainable goals.” This project utilized key high-performance materials such as triple-pane windows from Mavrik, a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) from Zehnder America, an air-source heat pump from Mitsubishi, and a panelized envelope system from Guardian Technologies.

The passive house concept is a rigorous, performance-based building standard designed to minimize energy use while maximizing interior comfort and health. Phius (Passive House Institute US) defines this approach as the smartest path to a zero-carbon built environment, certifying high-performance buildings across all sectors, from residential to commercial. It leverages advanced building science to create structures that require minimal energy for heating and cooling, setting a globally applicable standard for efficiency and sustainability.

Media Contact:
Mark Tordik
Broadpath for RPA
215-644-6502
mtordik@broadpathpr.com