Offices & Warehouses

10 Jay Street, Brooklyn, N.Y.

RETROFIT TEAM

ARCHITECT: ODA, New York

DEVELOPER: Triangle Assets, New York

FAÇADE INSTALLER: KPA Façade Technology, Richmond Hill, N.Y., (347) 789-1212

ENVELOPE CONSULTANT: Surface Design Group, New York

MATERIALS
ODA dug into the site’s history, drawing a series of skins that evoke sugar crystals, broken geodes and crystalline surfaces. The resulting curtainwall reflects the park and river sunsets that define the building’s surroundings. The renovations restore the east, north and south original facades to their historical masonry condition, as well as the interior brick vault ceilings and columns. The facades and interior earned 15 permits from New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, which can hold jewel-box designs to intense scrutiny.

CUSTOM GLASS CURTAINWALL: KPA Façade Technology, (347) 789-1212, and Hankuk Glass Industries Inc.

THE RETROFIT
Formerly, the Arbuckle Brothers sugar refinery, which dates back to 1898, 10 Jay Street was a massive structure that reached all the way to the water, where boats could dock for deliveries and services. In 1925 it was converted into a winery and, later that decade, the front structure was torn off, leaving three of the original facades and an interior party wall exposed to the East River shore. For 50 years the building was vacant and fell into disrepair until purchased by family-owned Triangle Assets in 1991.

When it came time to renovate, Triangle Assets’ team wanted a design that would preserve the unique history of the building while integrating into the 21st century fabric of DUMBO, an acronym—Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass—referring to the neighborhood. The 10-story building features 23,000-square- foot floorplates and interior terra-cotta arches, as well as interior detailing and characteristics of the industrial age.

Triangle Assets challenged ODA to reimagine the building for larger commercial businesses. “It was important to us that our building was hugged by the park. As the only privately owned building in all of Brooklyn Bridge Park [all other waterfront buildings hold 99-year leases], we wanted to make sure that we were making a statement that we could stand by for years to come. You can see this building from every direction, from land and sea, it’s definitely the crown jewel of DUMBO,” explains Benjamin Stavrach, director of Leasing and Property Management for Triangle Assets.

The building offers open floors for dynamic office arrangements to enjoy wide views of Manhattan and Williamsburg’s waterfront. Vaulted ceilings and exposed brick meet the full-height glass curtainwall. “10 Jay Street is a great example of the guiding principles that should steer the development of our future cities,” explains ODA Founder and Architect Eran Chen. “It’s a fresh approach to preservation; the mixed-use program gives the building a new purpose, shifting business hubs from city centers to peripheral neighborhoods, making DUMBO a place to live, work and play. The outcome is intended to be both beautiful and provocative. I believe 10 Jay will stand as an example for growing cities around the world.”

PHOTOS: Pavel Bendov