DeSimone Designs First Ground-Up Commercial Development in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
DeSimone Consulting Engineers, a leading engineering firm with offices worldwide, served as structural engineer for Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s first ground-up commercial development in more than 40 years. Located at 25 Kent Avenue near the East River waterfront, the 500,000 square foot building is expected to debut this year and was completed in collaboration with design architect Hollwich Kushner and Gensler, the design development architect.
The eight-story, bifurcated structure is comprised of two distinct rectangular volumes that are linked by a sloped, glass curtainwall which appears to hover above a central plaza. The volumes also incorporate a series of jagged setbacks and cantilevers at each edge to create outdoor terraces on every floor. Drawing upon the neighborhood’s rich industrial heritage, the building is sheathed in multi-tonal brick masonry, blackened steel, and glass materials.
Within, building components include approximately 270,000 square feet of office space, 44,000 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurants, a 31,000 square foot public plaza that bisects the entire structure, 57,000 square feet dedicated to light manufacturing, and 50,000 square feet of cellar-level parking. Future occupants will also have access to over 40,000 square feet of outdoor terraces and a manicured roof deck.
Ceiling spans exceed 15 feet at office levels, and a soaring 18 to 22 feet on retail floors.
“25 Kent represents great potential for the neighborhood to become a sophisticated commercial destination and we’re honored to have worked on such a remarkable development,” said Stephen DeSimone, President and CEO of DeSimone Consulting Engineers. “The build-site introduced numerous design challenges, but we resolved these quickly and efficiently to deliver a unique, multi-faceted property on the Williamsburg waterfront.”
The development team includes Rubenstein Partners and Heritage Equity Partners, who launched leasing at the property in 2018. Today, the building is expected to achieve LEED Gold-certification.
About DeSimone Consulting Engineers
Founded in New York City in 1969, DeSimone Consulting Engineers provides high-quality structural engineering, façade consulting, and forensic services for all types of buildings. With offices in the United States, South America, and the Middle East, DeSimone is known for providing each client with personal, dedicated, and inspiring engineering solutions. To date, DeSimone has designed over 10,000 projects in 44 states and 54 countries.
