Construction is wrapping up on Domino Square, a 33,000-square-foot public waterfront plaza and event space at 320 Kent Avenue within the 11-acre redevelopment of the historic Domino Sugar factory site in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Designed by Field Operations in collaboration with Studio Cadena and developed by Two Trees, the 1-acre park is located between The Refinery mixed-use office building to the north, the One Domino Square residential complex to the south, Kent Avenue to the east, and River Street, Domino Park, and the East River to the west.
Recent photographs show the elliptical plaza flanked by wooden amphitheater seating and populated with yellow tables and chairs beneath a mesh of sun shades. The backs of the wooden stadium benches are clad in oxidized Corten steel plates, adding a rusticated touch that harkens back to the complex’s industrial past. The gray stone steps on the western end of the gently sloping plaza match the stone blocks used for the base of Selldorf Architects’ One Domino Square.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Shrubbery and trees are planted on the sloped green roofs that top the Studio Cadena-designed retail arcade facing Kent Avenue. The ground-floor space is set to open soon to feature food vendors.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
The sun shade canopy is suspended by cables from turquoise steel columns around Domino Square, with light fixtures positioned in the voids between the white fabric.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Crews were in the process of planting the last set of sidewalk trees on the western edge of the property. Irrigation piping remained visible around several tall conifer and deciduous trees and landscaping in some of the low-rise garden beds.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Domino Square will host large community gatherings such as farmers markets, graduations for neighborhood schools, salsa nights, movie nights, as well as seasonal community activities including Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice skating rink, which will open this November.
“From the moment we bought Domino, we have been focused on creating one of the most highly utilized and diverse open spaces in all of Brooklyn,” said Jed Walentas, principal at Two Trees Management. “We have obviously been thrilled with how the community has responded to and adopted Domino Park. Now, with the opening of the Square, we will be able to accommodate a broader array of activities that will attract neighbors from all walks of life. Domino Square will enhance everyone’s life in South Williamsburg. We are really proud of what we have built and excited to see its potential as it evolves.”
“Domino Square completes the public open space promise to the community, enhances access to the neighborhood and waterfront, and offers a distinctive view of the Refinery building,” said Lisa Tziona Switkin, partner, Field Operations. “Its design creates an urban room that enriches the vibrancy and day-to-day life of Domino Park with welcoming, porous, and lush gardens along its edges and a central communal space that allows for expanded year-round programming.”
Directly below Domino Square is a $10 million wastewater treatment plant that will process all wastewater from the Domino Sugar master plan. The facility is planned to begin operation sometime next year. Original plans for the park site, which was purchased by Two Trees for $180 million in 2012 just before Hurricane Sandy, called for a 45-story residential skyscraper, but were changed to the current park design with the development air rights transferred to the surrounding Domino Sugar towers.
The nearest subways from the park are the J, M, and Z trains at the elevated Marcy Avenue station to the east and the L train at the Bedford Avenue station to the northeast.
Domino Square is open every day from 6 AM to 11 PM.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
Photo by Michael Young
Spectacular shots and wonderful new public space ♥️
Bravo to the landscape architects! This is awesome!
State of the art landscaping blends city and nature. This beautiful
Absolutely wonderful!
I never understood why the facade of the Domino factory was saved. It certainly does not rise to the level of the Devinne Press building and other industrial sites.
And it basically obliterates the views
Mike, I don’t see what “view” is being ruined by this low-rise structure. Have you not been walking to the edge of Domino Park where you can actually see the whole river and bridge? Stop exaggerating and making this sound like this is a 100-story tower, and walk the extra few steps to Domino Park to save your grievance 🤷🏼♀️
The building structure used in industrial applications will look like this, it looks nice that’s like a beer garden: Thanks to Michael Young.
Mike, nobody really cared about the view when people moved to Williamsburg in the 80s and 90s when it was much grittier, neglected, and less developed than it is now. That domino factory building was always there, regardless of its structural state. People only really care about the view today with the waterfront being developed with newer buildings popping up around it. Don’t blame it all on the Domino factory building when the view was more expansive in the past…
Do you not see the giant canopy over the plaza? Do you not see how young the trees still are? Do you not see how much more free space is at Domino Park that’s right across the street?? I was there last Saturday afternoon with my husband and children, and it was PACKED with families and people.
It’s definitely not an “urban fail,” and you’re completely wrong to judge a place which I bet you haven’t even set foot on. Wait for another good day of weather and see for yourself David and quit the blatant pessimistic tone.
The clashes of multiple building materials and colors is very disquieting
Wonderful. So inviting!
While there are some trees, there is almost shade, and absolutely no lawn. In short, it is an urban nightmare which will be unbearably hot much of the summer.
Fail.
I’ve never seen someone bitch about a park space this heavily. JPMorgan’s new building = yes I can see why. But for a public green space that can be used by the community and had a great opening last weekend, like wow really dude…?
Go find and sit on the grass at domino park that’s literally right across the damn street Mark!!
Amazing how shabby and run-down that hulk of the Domino looks. They should have done something to the surface. It looks like a cript, an empty hauted cript, now.
I agree, the window openings look like spaces to slide in a casket,
very dark and foreboding… perfect for the upcoming Halloween!!
While greenery is misleadingly prominent in the photos shown here, the sad reality is that this “park” is just even MORE concrete in a glass & concrete city. A congested city, where a park should be a lush & green oasis – not more of the same.
So would you rather have had the 45-story tower in its place as originally proposed? I don’t see how that is less concrete and glass as this green space 🥴
Hello 👋 Just wanted to say that everything looks beautiful. But, with plants and greenery you know those things have to be taken care of. It doesn’t take care of itself. Sadly like Domino Park for example looks like a neglected jungle. Where the rodents have created homes for themselves.. Due to the neglect of it all for it once was so beautiful absolutely breathtaking. And now you have to be careful not to go too late or be aware of where you sit. Unless you want a rodent on your lap. Like that small restaurant that they have there really cute but, very unsanitary for the people in general. Overgrown weeds trash in the bushes and rodents just waiting for you to get your food.
Now to my point of view about this NEW PLACE.
First of all you need to make it clear to the people who have dogs that the dog poop is NOT COMPOST. And that the dog URINE is even worse. YOU SHOULD really place signs stating fines for anyone allowing their dogs to go on the TREES 🌲 OR PLANTS 🪴. Some people assume because, they are paying a lot of rent or bought a home that they’re allowed to do whatever. And it shouldn’t be like that it’s costly I’m sure to create such a unique beautiful space.
NOW TO MAINTAIN THE SPACE some people are very disrespectful. So my question is how YOU GOING TO PROTECT THE PLANTS 🪴 AND TREES 🌲 FROM ALL THE DOGS URINE that dries up the plants and creates toxins in the soil..
Mind you let’s NOT forget THE DOGS POOP that not only feeds the rodents if left behind. But, also creates horrible odors.
NOT EVEN for one second create real or fake grass for the dogs. Because, down the block from CVS they created something like this. BAD BAD IDEA there was an invasion of mosquitoes 🦟 and the dogs urine smell was absolutely horrible. People couldn’t breathe with that horrible smell. That’s on North 6th down the block from CVS. You can’t miss it it’s where you take the ferry ⛴️ boat. They created that for the dogs 🐶 but, UNFORTUNATELY NO ONE THOUGHT THIS IDEA THROUGH. Because, apparently it isn’t being washed properly to at least help eliminate the odors.
JUST PLEASE DO YOUR BEST TO PROTECT THE TREES & PLANTS.. And as you continue beautifying the neighborhood please NOT too many huge buildings. Because, some of us don’t want to live in constant darkness. Because, our plants and trees DON’T DO WELL DO TOO LACK OF SUNLIGHT..
Thank you 😊 just giving my point of view.
Looking forward to checking out the new section.
Hope all has a wonderful week..
Beautiful!
Lol, that “park” is not going to last a year before certain types of “people” decide to make it their own.
Beautiful brickwork in the old Domino plant
I really want the Domino building to be a masterpiece, but, those window openings..the ones where you can see the new glass right behind are great,but so many of these openings now look like just dark open holes..terrible, maybe when tenants start working in the building it will improve…what was the thinking here?