Construction begins on DUMBO community and environmental education building
Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation (BBP), general contractor Stalco Construction and architect Architecture Research Office (ARO) have begun an extensive renovation and conversion of a former New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) maintenance building into a Brooklyn Bridge Park environmental education, community and maintenance facility. The building, located at 99 Plymouth St. in DUMBO, will include an environmental education classroom, which will be operated by the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.
The ceremonial groundbreaking event, attended by community leaders and borough, city and state politicians, included demolition of a section of the building to make space for a new glass wall that will open the interiors to the surrounding park. The ceremony culminated in BBP President Regina Myer, New York state Sen. Daniel Squadron, New York City Councilmember Stephen Levin, Brooklyn Borough Director of Capital Budget and Economic Development Kai Feder, BBP Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Webster and Stalco Principal Kevin G. Harney and Project Manager Keith Ward demolishing a part of the wall with sledge hammers. The event marked the beginning of the main phase of the project, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2015.