HWKN introduces gem-like brick office complex in bushwick, brooklyn

new york based architecture firm HWKN introduces ‘bushwick generator’, a bold new office campus situated in brooklyn, new york. formed as a gem-like brick volume, the project gives shape to the area’s creative spirit and relentless drive, offering a hub for the innovative companies that call brooklyn home.

all images courtesy of HWKN

in order to preserve the dynamic character of the area – which is rooted in its long history as a manufacturing district – HWKN kept the light-industrial buildings that existed on site and used them as part of the new building’s foundation. to this base, a sculptural, gem-like brick volume was added, to introduce a vertical focal point in the neighborhood and to enclose 400,000 sqf (37,161.22 sqm) of workspace. by maintaining and building atop the existing urban fabric, the ‘bushwick generator’ breathes life into the context while preserving the distinctive grit that lends the area its unique character and edge.

‘the generator truly is a campus, an amalgam of community, novelty, and authenticity. it is the antithesis of the sterile silicon valley office park’ the studio mentions. in order to create working environments that are as lively as the structure’s exterior form, the design invites the neighborhood’s energy inside with areas for public programming. these spaces can be used for exhibitions, performances, and social events, bringing together office tenants with community members in a bustling center.

to further open the building to the street, HWKN has sliced a corner off the existing light-industrial structures at the base, creating a triangular entrance that continues the faceted geometry to the ground plane and carves out space for a sidewalk plaza. above, a landscaped outdoor terrace activates the area where the rectangular base meets the vertical gem, offering an area that can serve as a breakout space, an informal meeting area, or a venue for public events.

inside, the octagonal floor-plates can be flexibly subdivided, allowing the building to host businesses ranging from nascent startup-ups, makers, and growth-phase companies to established industry leaders. this fosters a diverse commercial ecosystem where companies can collaborate creatively and inspire one another. throughout, the building’s form generates distinctive interior work environments with 270-degrees of exposure, flooding each floor with sunlight and opening up panoramic views over brooklyn and manhattan.