The New York office Perkins Eastman joins developer/builder Caro Enterprises in celebrating the completion of the unique 69-unit Wythe Confectionery apartments at 390 Wythe Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The conversion has restored the building’s original beauty, with plentiful exposed brick, original wooden beams, and wooden ceilings.
Principal in Charge Shawn Basler AIA says of the building’s transformation, “It has been very gratifying to be part of the effort to retain the architectural heritage in such a vibrant and diverse neighborhood.”
Originally built to house the Matchett Candy factory at the turn of the 19th century, the pine framed brick building was one of the few candy factories in Williamsburg. The building is a testament to the area’s flourishing industrial past, and as a physical example of the commitment to the preservation of the neighborhood character and our vital connections to its heritage. As a piece of Brooklyn history, Perkins Eastman and the developer went to great lengths to preserve and restore original architectural features, while reclaiming and reusing materials when possible in the studio, one- and two-bedroom loft apartments.
The team retained architectural features like the brick barrel-hinge corner, a corbelled brick cornice, arched windows, massively scaled ground floor openings, and decorative brickwork punctuated with unique decorative iron ties across the facade. Brick and timber columns have once again been exposed and highlighted, cast iron column straps and capitals have been brought back to life, and the original heavy-timbered plank flooring was restored and retained as ceilings--all combined with modern fixtures and finishes throughout. Other native materials, including extra timbers and slate flooring that were not used during the restoration, were reclaimed for reuse in the public and shared spaces of the building, designed by Visconti Architecture.
Related Stories
| Jul 31, 2012
Thornton Tomasetti announces four promotions in Chicago office
Promotions in Thornton Tomasetti office key on industy veterans.
| Jul 25, 2012
EwingCole adds healthcare director to D.C. office
Schultz brings over 25 years of proven experience in planning and designing healthcare, medical research, and government medical facilities.
| Jul 25, 2012
Contract awarded for Gaillard Municipal Auditorium renovations in Charleston, S.C.
Seeking LEED Silver certification, the project will begin in August and is slated for completion in December 2014.
| Jul 24, 2012
Boyer joins Thornton Tomasetti as vice president in New York office
Boyer will support Thornton Tomasetti’s Building Performance and Property Loss Consulting practices in the East U.S. region as well as nationally.
| Jul 24, 2012
Dragon Valley Retail at epicenter of Yongsan International Business District
Masterplanned by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Yongsan IBD encompasses ten city blocks and includes a collection of high-rise residences and commercial buildings.
| Jul 23, 2012
Venturi Scott Brown and Associates Becomes VSBA, LLC
After over fifty years as one of the world’s most renowned architects, Bob Venturi has retired from practice, while Denise Scott Brown continues to publish and present her work.
| Jul 23, 2012
Giants 300 Firm Index 2012
An alphabetical index of the Giants 300 AEC firms and their ranking in specific categories.
| Jul 23, 2012
Haynes Whaley announces leadership transition
Pronier has worked in the construction industry for the past 30 years.
| Jul 23, 2012
Missner Group completes construction of Chicago auto dealership
The Missner Group also incorporated numerous sustainable improvements to the property including the implementation of a vegetative roof, and the utilization of permeable pavers for the parking lot.
| Jul 20, 2012
2012 Giants 300 Special Report
Ranking the leading firms in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.