The Living Domino Project: Domino Sugar Factory, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

While the battle to confer landmark status on the Domino Sugar Factory refinery building in Williamsburg has been won (though the famous sign and the building upon which it sits were not awarded the designation), debate still rages over plans for the actual development of the rest of the site. Non-profit organization Community Preservation Corporation (“CPC”) and its partner, private developer Isaac Katan, are seeking to combine affordable housing (660 units) with 1,750 market rate apartments by razing three former Factory buildings and constructing four, forty story towers along the waterfront. However, enthusiasm is not uniform with respect to these plans.

Williamsburg resident Adam Brock, who is an ecological design student at NYU, has proposed an alternative plan called “Living Domino,” which seeks, conceptually, to implement an integrated systems design approach and continuously recycle water, waste, and energy throughout a redeveloped complex. Brock’s design also calls for affordable housing, but incorporates passive solar design, a prototype vertical farm, building-integrated PVs, rainwater-collecting “green gutters,” and an arts and cultural center. Best of luck from gbNYC to Mr. Brock as he continues to refine his vision; we’ll be keeping our eye on what continues to transpire out at the Sugar Refinery.

• Living Domino (WGY)