STATUS
IN DESIGN
Gowanus 175 Third Street
BROOKLYN, UNITED STATESCLIENT
Charney Companies and Tavros
TYPOLOGY
Residential
SIZE M2/FT2
100,335 / 1,080,000
SHARE
Developed by Charney Companies and Tavros, and designed in collaboration with dencityworks | architecture, 175 Third Street contributes to the rehabilitation of the Gowanus canal while supporting the continued evolution of the industrial Brooklyn neighborhood. Catalyzed by the major Gowanus rezoning in 2021 – one of the most significant rezonings in New York City in recent years – 175 Third Street builds on years of BIG’s prior study and design exploration in both the site and broader community.
Following a previous design concept for the same site unveiled in 2023, the new development spans over one million sq ft, featuring a 28,000-sq-ft public waterfront park designed by Field Operations in collaboration with the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation. Arriving at a time when the need for housing in New York City is more urgent than ever, the 27-story building will include over 1,000 residential units, approximately 250 of which will be affordable.
Neighboring the Gowanus Canal, the building steps in a series of cascading concrete volumes, visually breaking down the scale and creating a dynamic silhouette that responds to its industrial context. The towers appear as stacked blocks, connecting on the east side to form a descending U-shape opening towards the waterfront – a gesture that frames the canal as both focal point and front yard. The horseshoe geometry maximizes access to light, air, and outdoor space, carving out room for the waterfront park connecting 2nd and 3rd Streets, as well as an internal stepped courtyard and a sequence of rooftop terraces designed by BIG Landscape.
URBAN BLOCKS
— By breaking the large mass into smaller blocks, the design introduces a scale that better responds to the industrial context of Gowanus.
“When the building went into contract, we put out an RFP with five different architects, and the designs BIG came back with just knocked us out. They understood the location, the surroundings, and the history of Gowanus, which we appreciated.”
"Our design for 175 Third Street in Gowanus is conceived as a three-dimensional neighborhood of building blocks stacked to frame a central park cascading down towards the canal waterfront. The rational volumes are chiseled and chamfered, opening up the corners to create terraces, entrances, and outdoor spaces. The resultant architecture provides a plethora of niches for all forms of life - urban and intimate, public and private - within and around."
Residents and visitors are welcomed to 175 Third Street by a rhythm of chamfered entry points that gently pull back from the street, providing intuitive wayfinding and softening the building’s presence amongst its landmarked neighbors: the Coignet Stone Company building, the American Can Company building, and the adjacent Powerhouse Arts building. The ground floor will host a mix of active retail and artist spaces, weaving the building into the fabric of the creative neighborhood.
Located within a flood zone, the sloping waterfront esplanade designed by Field Operations provides a protective buffer that can absorb water and accommodate flooding in storm events. The public park imagines a multi-use recreation court, a dog run, a mounded lawn, fitness nooks, art sculptures, a variety of planting, and seating arranged for users to enjoy the newly imagined water’s edge.
Designated as an Ultra-Low-Energy building, 175 Third Street is a fully electrified, high-performance structure projected to exceed energy code requirements by 15%. The entire structure is strategically elevated, ensuring long-term resilience and uninterrupted livability for its residents in the face of a changing climate. With epic views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, 175 Third Street also includes areas for fitness; spaces for socializing and entertaining; and family-friendly amenities – all culminating in a rooftop with lounging areas and an outdoor pool.
Bjarke Ingels Martin Voelkle Alejandra Cortes Andreas Buettner Jason Wu Jan Leenknegt Margaret Tyrpa Michelle Stromsta Pauline Lavie-Luong Benjamin Caldwell Giulia Frittoli Luca McLaughlin Sungmin Kim Qyu-Ri Kim Changbin Kim Vi Madrazo Fani Christina Papadopoulou Matt Adler Douglas Brooks Artem Chouliak Evan Hotary Petch Peewsook Mateo Deza Eliza Austin Kirat Pandher
COLLABORATORS
AKRF
Dencityworks Architecture
DeSimone
Ettinger Engineering Associates
Field Operations
Fried Frank
Hatfield Group
Impact Environmental
Jenkins and Huntington
