Brooklyn Arts Tower

New York, NY, USA

Brooklyn Arts Tower

New York, NY, USA

Brooklyn is often referred to as the creative capital of America, a place preferred by artists and those who thrive on cultural activities. This new mixed-use tower development is located at the vibrant heart of the BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) District.

The primary goals in designing the Brooklyn Arts Tower are to provide socially, fiscally and environmentally responsible performance and living spaces while presenting the city with a pilot project for future city-wide sustainable affordable housing developments.

A total of 187 housing units, over half of them affordable to low-, moderate- and middle-income families, will be accommodated in the uppers floors with a rich mixture of cultural and commercial spaces located in the 5 storey plinth.

In contrast to the monolithic housing project tower the new 130m tower is composed of a number of mid-rise “Sky-Communities”; five rectilinear forms assembled around the vertical core which lend the tower a distinct appearance. While some apartments have private terraces, balconies and wintergardens, all apartments have access to the communal gardens and the adjacent semi-public amenities.

The scale of the five communities of mid-rise buildings relates to Brooklyn’s existing urban fabric and the immediate neighbourhood. Through limiting the number of units per floor and opening up the circulation spaces to light and natural ventilation qualities are promoted which will lead to an increased sense of ownership and identity.

  • Location

    New York, NY, USA

  • Client

    Site Owner: City of New York represented by HPD (NYC Housing and Preservation Department), Client: Full Spectrum New York Tenant Cultural Base Danspace represented by Downtown Brooklyn Partnership

  • Architect

    Behnisch Architekten with Studio MDA, New York

  • Address

  • Photography

    Renderings: moka-studio

  • Gross

    21.300 qm / 230.000 sq.ft.

  • Competition

    2007