PAU’s Domino Sugar Refinery Reopens as Brooklyn’s Latest Workspace

PAU’s Domino Sugar Refinery Reopens as Brooklyn’s Latest Workspace

Two Bushes Administration introduced the official reopening of The Refinery at Domino Sugar, considered one of Brooklyn’s most iconic buildings reworked into a contemporary workspace. The design of the adaptive reuse undertaking, led by Observe for Structure and Urbanism (PAU) started in 2017 with the aim of reimagining the monument to develop into a degree of connection between the present neighborhood and the recaptured waterfront. The constructing now options 15 tales of workplace house, roughly 460,000 sq. ft, full with retail areas, communal workspaces, a non-public membership, and occasion areas.

As a part of the technique for the renovation course of, PAU nestled a brand new glass constructing into the present brick façade, sustaining a 12-foot hole between the 2 buildings. This enables for standardized ground heights whereas guaranteeing applicable mild ranges and entry to outside areas for all future customers. The 12-foot house between the glass curtain wall and the masonry exterior is populated with a large-scale ecosystem with native vegetation, demonstrating a mannequin for biophilic workplace design. The vertical backyard was designed by panorama structure agency Area Operations, whereas the interiors of the constructing had been created by inside designer Bonetti/Kozerski and Government Architect dencityworks.

The adaptive reuse undertaking integrates components of the historic buildings, together with the outdated Havemeyer constructing’s 214-foot tall chimney. The sugar manufacturing equipment home contained in the constructing has been repurposed and positioned all through Domino Park as historic relics. An energy-efficient LED duplicate of the long-lasting “Domino Sugar” neon signal has additionally been included to trace on the authentic picture of the manufacturing facility. The undertaking additionally aimed to develop into considered one of New York’s most environmentally accountable buildings. It options all-electric gear and a non-public water reuse system that diverts polluted water from metropolis outfalls, thus lowering stress on town’s infrastructure.

The transformation of The Refinery entailed three main design strikes—inserting a recent constructing within the sleeve of the historic construction much like the equipment it as soon as housed, making a glass barrel vault type that pays homage to the American Spherical Arch type of the unique, and opening the bottom ground to the park and the encompassing Williamsburg neighborhood. This strategy has created an iconic landmark for the twenty first century, providing customers pure mild, luscious greenery, waterfront views, and a recent dialogue with historical past that the majority new industrial tasks lack. – Vishaan Chakrabarti, Founder and Inventive Director of PAU

Inbuilt 1884, the Domino Sugar Refinery was as soon as the most important sugar manufacturing producer on the planet. It was closed in 2004 after 12 years in operation, prompting New York Landmarks Preservation Fee to call he Filter, Pan, and Ending Home of the Refinery a landmark web site in 2007. Since then, a protracted reconversion course of begun, which included the 11-acre Domino Park grasp plan in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and the reimagined Domino Sugar Refinery constructing designed by PAU. In a latest interview, PAU’s Vishaan Chakrabarti discusses the renovation plans drawing parallels to urgent problems with city environments.