Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBP), general contractor Stalco Construction, and architect Architecture Research Office (ARO) have begun an extensive renovation and conversion of a former New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) maintenance building into a Brooklyn Bridge Park environmental education, community, and maintenance facility.
The building, located at 99 Plymouth Street in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, will include an environmental education classroom, which will be operated by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.
The event, included a ceremonial beginning of demolition of a section of the building to make space for a new glass wall that will open the interiors to the surrounding park.
The ceremony culminated in BBP President Regina Myer, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, New York City Councilman Stephen Levin, Brooklyn Borough Director of Capital Budget and Economic Development Kai Feder, BBP Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Webster, and Stalco Principal Kevin G. Harney and Project Manager Keith Ward demolishing a part of the wall with sledge hammers.
The event marked the beginning of the main phase of the project, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2015.
“The Plymouth Street Building is going to be a fantastic addition to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and I am excited to see it moving along so swiftly to completion,” said Myer.
“With its flexible community areas and educational facility, this space will provide important year-round programming opportunities for the local community and all park users.”
“Upon completion of the $3.6 million renovation, the building will serve the entire 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of Brooklyn’s most popular outdoor areas,” said Stalco principal Kevin G. Harney.
“The structure is located on a 10,650 s/f site situated directly beneath the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn’s trendy DUMBO neighborhood,” he added. “The project includes demolition of a portion of the main, one-story building previously used by NYCDEP, and two adjacent storage structures,” explained Stalco Project Manager Keith Ward.
“Stalco will construct a new glass curtainwall on the west and south elevations, refurbish the original exterior brick walls, build a new storefront-type entrance and additional window and garage door openings, and completely renovate the interiors in order to create offices and community facilities,” he continued.
The building’s exterior will feature a glass and aluminum curtain wall and main entrance, with a portion of the wall constructed of soundproof glass.
