42,000 square feet urban farm created on new york rooftop

42,000 square feet urban farm created on new york rooftop 
image © anastasia cole plakias, brooklyn grange rooftop farm
all images courtesy of bromley caldari

bromley caldari architects, in collaboration with acumen capital partners & brooklyn grange LLC, renovated a 300,000ft² building in long island city, new york. originally a seven story commercial loft building, it has since catered to a range of industries including media, architecture, fashion, film, and printing, and design. as part of the $USD 10,000,000 overhaul, the 42,000 square foot rooftop was transformed into a urban rooftop farm.

new york is home to a vibrant food-producing community that boasts a growing number of rooftop farms
image © anastasia cole plakias, brooklyn grange rooftop farm

nearly 1,000,000 pounds of soil were transplanted to the roof, solidifying it as one of the largest rooftop agricultural systems in the world. other changes included the replacement of kalwall cladding with low-e windows, refreshed exterior lighting and signage, an additional elevator, electrical and building system upgrades, contemporary lobby and entrance canopy, modern corridors with energy efficient lighting, and bathrooms with low-consumption fixtures. the interior palette is minimal and low maintenance, with polished concrete flooring, stainless steel fittings and painted sheetrock partitions. 

sixty percent of the roof’s gross area is able to be cultivated 

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edited by: nick brink | designboom