Williamsburg Mixed Use
The Williamsburg Brooklyn building is a seven-story, 40,000-square-foot, mixed-use structure located in the vibrant South Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The site's unique challenges include being enclosed on the north side by the elevated J, M, and Z subway lines, the west by the MTA station head house, and the east by the sunken BQE expressway. This architectural endeavor replaces a single-story, aging 19th-century theater house and serves as a pivotal waypoint on the route to downtown Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge.
The site's trapezoidal geometry accommodates ground-floor retail and a second-floor medical office, while the upper levels house a diverse selection of 24 apartments, including studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Leveraging multiple zoning exposures, the building's design cleverly incorporates stepped massing and creates outdoor spaces on three sides.
Terraces, which commence at the level of the nearby train tracks, spiral gracefully around the building, seamlessly extending living areas and fostering interactions with neighbors and the dynamic urban environment.
The building's exterior is designed around a sleek black-clad metal panel base that elegantly ascends to the terrace levels, where it seamlessly transitions into a striking white aluminum skin at the setbacks. The textured facade is thoughtfully punctuated by triple-glazed, acoustically rated windows, contributing to both its aesthetic appeal and acoustic performance.
The uniquely shaped trapezoid geometry of the site contains ground-floor retail and a second-floor medical office.
The multiple zoning exposures offered an opportunity to step the building’s massing and provide outdoor space.
Credits
Architectural: Paul Coughlin, Jason Causton, Michelle Schneider
MEP Engineer: New York Engineers.
Structural Engineer: BlueSky Design
Photography: Matthew Carbone Photography