NYC Pre-Approves 300 SF Backyard Home Designed to Make ADUs More Achievable

New York, NY — March 2026 — BEAM Architects has been selected for New York City’s Pre-Approved ADU Plan Library with “Xanadu,” a 300-square-foot detached backyard home designed to make small-scale housing more affordable and achievable for New York City homeowners.

The city’s Pre-Approved Plan Library includes ADU designs reviewed for general code and zoning compliance, helping homeowners begin with a city-reviewed design, reduce early design time and costs, and streamline the path toward construction.

Rather than maximizing size, Xanadu prioritizes feasibility. The design uses a compact footprint, simple massing, stock-sized windows, cost-conscious materials, and efficient planning to fit a wider range of NYC lots while reducing construction complexity.

With an estimated construction cost starting at approximately $100,000, excluding site utilities and site-specific conditions, the model offers a practical option for homeowners seeking rental income, family space, aging-in-place flexibility, or an independent backyard living unit.

“Most housing solutions fail not because they’re poorly designed, but because they’re unrealistic to build,” said Jacob Goldman, Principal of BEAM Architects. “We approached this by focusing on what can actually get approved, financed, and constructed across the largest number of properties in New York City. Xanadu is the result of that constraint-driven approach.”

Homeowners can learn more, view renderings and floor plans, and check eligibility at beamarc.com/adu.

Media Contact
Jacob Goldman
Principal, BEAM Architects
[email protected]
beamarc.com/adu