At number 23 our annual countdown of the tallest projects under construction in New York is 280 Kent Avenue, a pair of 591-foot-tall residential skyscrapers along the Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn. Designed by REX and developed by Two Trees, the twin 50-story structures will span roughly 1.17 million square feet and yield 1,262 units. The complex will also include 12,230 square feet of commercial space and an enclosed parking garage. Twenty-five percent of the residential units will be reserved for affordable housing. The project, also known as Building B in the five-structure Domino Sugar masterplan, spans an entire city block bounded by South 1st Street to the north, South 2nd Street to the south, Kent Avenue to the east, and River Street to the west.
A substantial amount of foundation work has been completed since our last update in late August, when crews were still unearthing the site with excavators and prepping the ground with piling machines. A tower crane has been erected within the footprint of the newly formed perimeter walls, and a plethora of rebar is in place as the large team of workers continues to form the elements of the substructure. YIMBY expects the project to reach street level by the spring.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue. Photo by Michael Young.
The new renderings in the main photo and below preview the latest design for 280 Kent Avenue, which will become the tallest development along the Williamsburg waterfront, surpassing the 550-foot height of One Domino Square’s taller tower at the southern tip of the masterplan.
The towers will rise from a shared multi-story podium and feature identical designs with glass curtain walls and wraparound balconies on every level. The structures will culminate in matching bulkheads clad in gray metal paneling.
280 Kent Avenue. Designed by REX.
The most interesting design element is the elliptical cutouts positioned in a staggered pattern across all the balconies, creating a striking visual impression.
280 Kent Avenue. Designed by REX.
Complementing the amorphous effect of the balcony cutouts is the use of undulating floor-to-ceiling glass on the podium levels, which will be interspersed with protruding floor plates.
280 Kent Avenue. Designed by REX.
The latest renderings appear mostly in line with the scale models first unveiled in our April project update.
Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
280 Kent Avenue scale model. Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
Photo by Michael Young.
The nearest subways from the development are the L train at the Bedford Avenue station and the J, M, and Z trains at the Marcy Avenue station.
280 Kent Avenue’s anticipated completion date is slated for fall 2030, as noted on site. It remains unclear whether the homes will be rentals or condominium units, or a mixture of both.
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Nice! Didn’t know it was so far along already. Should be topped out by this time next year.
No way that curved glass survives VE.
Was thinking the same thing. High quality glass would make this stunning. Cheaper glass could be disastrous.
Destroyer of views..
Or, it becomes part of the view. It’s all about perspective. You’re welcome.
Very cool, love the balcony design here.
Wow this is going to be massive!
Very cool. But they’re going to need more public space. Domino Park is already filed to the max. in summer, even spring & fall on warm days. A million sq. feet of new residential space will overwhelm that and the site doesn’t seem to offer any offsetting public space.
Domino Park becoming the new center of gravity for Williamsburg!
The curved glass and balconies are an interesting choice. Howdy neighbor!
We will see how this really turns out. The Brooklyn Boom continues.
Hmm. A design that’s interesting close up and completely soulless from any distance. Watch those curved glass balconies disappear before it’s finished. Then it will be soulless up close as well.
Very nice to see so many homes being built! I wish more of the bigger towers added this much housing stock.
The proximity of the two towers might make the intervening space rather gusty.
I think the gap between the two towers of One Domino Square is even narrower than this
a shame it was already value engineered to lose the eye catching skybridge betwen the two towers those fancy balconies will be next to go.
Kudos to Michael Young and Matt Pruznick. Great reporting with pictures.