Bjarke Ingels’ Gowanus Tower in Brooklyn Prepares for Foundation Work

The story centers on the long-dormant site at 175 3rd Street in Gowanus, where a major redevelopment is finally moving forward under new ownership. Charney Companies and Tavros Capital have teamed with Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and dencityworks|architecture to redefine the parcel as a 27-story, 1.08 million-square-foot mixed-use complex.

The new development will feature 1,071 apartments, ground-floor retail, and a public area along the Gowanus Canal. The project highlights affordability, electrified design, and climate resilience.

Project Vision and Scope

The Gowanus site is being transformed from an underused area into a high-density, all-electric landmark. It will include housing, commerce, culture, and open space.

The plan is part of the Gowanus Wharf initiative and aims to balance a striking skyline with public amenities. The design combines BIG’s massing with dencityworks|architecture’s urban approach, creating a pedestrian-friendly block with a strong public edge along the canal.

Architectural Design and Massing

The buildings are connected concrete-and-glass towers reaching 281 feet (27 stories). They are organized around a central core that rises from the sidewalk as a 16-story base before reaching full height.

The façades have a gridded pattern, chamfered corners, and exposed structural elements. This style brings industrial-inspired details into a modern look and maximizes daylight, views, and balconies for residents.

The project is designed as a series of articulated volumes, avoiding a monolithic appearance. It responds to nearby landmarked buildings, including Powerhouse Arts, the Coignet Building, and the American Can Company Building.

Housing, Commercial Space, and Public Amenities

The plan includes 1,071 rental units, with about 250 units reserved as affordable housing under Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH). The program is all-electric, supporting decarbonization and energy efficiency.

The residential component is paired with approximately 84,220 square feet of commercial space, ground-floor retail, and artist workspaces. Amenities include fitness areas, multipurpose rooms, and a rooftop with an outdoor pool.

The development offers a civic-focused public area: a 28,000-square-foot waterfront esplanade along the Gowanus Canal. Designed by Field Operations and the Parks Department, this sloped park will absorb stormwater, reduce flood risk, and feature a multi-use court, dog run, lawn, seating, and plantings.

Context, Landmarks, and Public Realm

The project will stand near individually landmarked structures, creating a new urban edge and connecting to the canal’s updated waterfront. The esplanade provides a public space linking residents to the canal and nearby cultural sites.

Timeline, Ownership, and Planning Milestones

Charney Companies and Tavros Capital bought the nearly three-acre site for $160 million in April 2025. The project is part of their “Gowanus Wharf” cluster, targeting around 2,000 residential units across four sites.

Permits for excavation and foundation work were issued in mid-2025. The September 2025 filing details rooftop terraces on the 14th, 16th, and 18th floors.

The current plan nearly triples the unit count from BIG’s earlier concept under previous ownership, which proposed 374 units. The revised design emphasizes density, housing for varied incomes, and a strong public realm.

Sustainability and Resilience Features

All-electric systems cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet modern energy codes for high-rise communities. The 28,000-square-foot esplanade serves as both a public amenity and a climate adaptation feature, absorbing stormwater and lowering flood risk for the shoreline.

The project aims to create a resilient, vibrant, mixed-use environment for future residents and visitors along the canal.

Implications for Practice: Key Takeaways for Designers and Planners

• Public realm as resilience strategy: The waterfront esplanade shows how placemaking and flood mitigation can work together in high-density residential areas.
• All-electric, low-emission design: The project uses electrified systems as a main sustainability strategy. This sets a standard for future multi-family towers in rezoned districts.
• Affordability commitments: The MIH component underlines the importance of housing policy in large urban projects. Transparent delivery timelines remain necessary.
• Contextual massing and landmark considerations: The plan’s massing fits with nearby historic structures. It also creates a new urban edge along the canal corridor.
• Public-private collaboration: The Gowanus Wharf group shows how coordinated ownership and coalition-building can speed up major urban projects.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Towering Bjarke Ingels-Designed Gowanus Complex Preps for Foundation Work