Gowanus Model Manufacturing Block

We developed an urban manufacturing vision for our client, a significant property owner in the Gowanus, Brooklyn Industrial Business Zone district. The proposal is intended to support the City’s initiative to rejuvenate IBZs throughout the city and enhance their roles as vital hubs for production and commerce in the following ways: The block will be upzoned to a 5.0 FAR, existing tax lots will be assembled and then subdivided to meet current market demands, and an internal street with loading docks for each building will be created, thus enhancing business visibility and community access along the block’s perimeter. The spatial organization supports our client’s vision with several key features: multi-level terraces offering essential open space, large open plans with freight elevator access for flexible light industry and artisanal use, and photovoltaic panels to offset on-site energy needs. The brick facade, capped with the historic “Kentile” lettering, honors the district's heritage while maximizing natural daylight and incorporating shading devices to reduce solar heat gain.

Client	Brooklyn Industrial Buildings
Location	Brooklyn, NY
Size	556,000 sf
Status	Design
Project Team	David Briggs, Daniela Tapia, Sai Hu
Images	Architectural CGI