Brooklyn Navy Yard Building 92

Brooklyn Navy Yard Building 92

Building 92, designed in 1857, serves as the Yard’s public face, gateway, ambassador, and home of the first major exhibition to tell the story of the Navy Yard. The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) seized the opportunity to preserve the historic structure for an exemplary demonstration of creative adaptive reuse. The new design weds the renovated historic structure to a 4-story modern extension that houses BNYDC’s Employment Center, leasable space, classrooms and meeting/event space. Plaza Construction was selected as the construction manager to construct the restoration and the addition to the structure.

The restoration involved stabilizing the structure with a new foundation system supported by piles and replacement of structural framing that was compromised throughout the past 150+ years. The work also consisted of extensive interior and exterior masonry restoration, a new metal roof, highend interior finishes and network lighting to support the exhibits and galleries. The restoration required additional structural improvements to support a 20- foot high, 12-ton ship’s anchor and chain, along with a 3-ton historic canon. The additional 23,000 square foot space was erected in 4 days utilizing modular construction. Plaza oversaw and coordinated all aspects of the modular building in the fabrication facility inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The project schedule was significantly reduced by utilizing modular boxes with the exterior walls factory installed along with partial interior fitout.

The building also houses a geothermal HVAC system, a solar hot-water system, a system to reclaim storm water for use in flushing toilets and urinals, similar to a gray-water system, extensive site improvements to create a “park like” setting, and a building façade consisting of metal panels, ribbon windows, curtain wall and solar screen.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard is on National Register of Historic Places.