The Bedford Union Armory, originally built in 1903, has been repurposed and reimagined as a vital hub for the Crown Heights, Brooklyn community.
The mixed-use development combines vitally needed recreational and after-school programs, cultural activities, and support services in one facility. The project also includes 415 units of affordable and market rate housing in two additional buildings.
Now called the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center, the project includes a swimming pool, dance studios, an indoor soccer field, and multiple basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts. The interior space can be adapted to host a range of activities from farmers’ markets to films and community meetings. The center also has space for non-profits to provide on-site tutoring, counseling, cultural programming, and LGBT support services.
Bedford Court, the project’s residential component, includes an 82,000-sf, eight story, 60-unit affordable residential building with a medical facility, and a 320,000-sf, 15-story rental residential building that offers 355 market rate and affordable units. The lower building sits along the southern edge of the Armory while the larger residential building occupies a through-lot condition, spanning from President to Union Street.
The project preserved nearly 84% of the original armory building. New York City architecture firm Marvel designed the project for developer BFC.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Building Enclosure Systems | May 16, 2023
4 steps to a better building enclosure
Dividing the outside environment from the interior, the building enclosure is one of the most important parts of the structure. The enclosure not only defines the building’s aesthetic, but also protects occupants from the elements and facilitates a comfortable, controlled climate. With dozens of components comprising the exterior assemblies, from foundation to cladding to roof, figuring out which concerns to address first can be daunting.
Multifamily Housing | May 16, 2023
Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier
Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.
Sustainability | May 11, 2023
Let's build toward a circular economy
Eric Corey Freed, Director of Sustainability, CannonDesign, discusses the values of well-designed, regenerative buildings.
Office Buildings | May 4, 2023
In Southern California, a former industrial zone continues to revitalize with an award-winning office property
In Culver City, Calif., Del Amo Construction, a construction company based in Southern California, has completed the adaptive reuse of 3516 Schaefer St, a new office property. 3516 Schaefer is located in Culver City’s redeveloped Hayden Tract neighborhood, a former industrial zone that has become a technology and corporate hub.
Higher Education | Apr 17, 2023
Rider University opens a 'Zen Den' for restoring students' mental well-being
Rider University partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group to create a relaxation room for students, dubbed "The Zen Den."
Libraries | Mar 26, 2023
An abandoned T.J. Maxx is transformed into a new public library in Cincinnati
What was once an abandoned T.J. Maxx store in a shopping center is now a vibrant, inviting public library. The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library (CHPL) has transformed the ghost store into the new Deer Park Library, designed by GBBN.
Government Buildings | Mar 24, 2023
19 federal buildings named GSA Design Awards winners
After a six-year hiatus, the U.S. General Services Administration late last year resumed its esteemed GSA Design Awards program. In all, 19 federal building projects nationwide were honored with 2022 GSA Design Awards, eight with Honor Awards and 11 with Citations.
Affordable Housing | Mar 8, 2023
7 affordable housing developments built near historic districts, community ties
While some new multifamily developments strive for modernity, others choose to retain historic aesthetics.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 8, 2023
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers receives Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from New York Landmarks Conservancy
Hoffmann Architects + Engineers, a design firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, announces that the historic facade rehabilitation and window replacement at the 69th Regiment Armory has been selected for the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award, the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s prestigious recognition for outstanding preservation efforts.
Adaptive Reuse | Mar 5, 2023
Pittsburgh offers funds for office-to-residential conversions
The City of Pittsburgh’s redevelopment agency is accepting applications for funding from developers on projects to convert office buildings into affordable housing. The city’s goals are to improve downtown vitality, make better use of underutilized and vacant commercial office space, and alleviate a housing shortage.
