Domino Sugar Refinery: Adaptive Reuse and Waterfront Revival by PAU

Architects: PAU - Practice for Architecture and Urbanism 

Located in the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the Domino Sugar Refinery stands as a monumental industrial landmark, now revitalized as a mixed-use hub that reconnects the neighborhood to the waterfront. Originally constructed by Henry Havemeyer, this iconic refinery shaped both Brooklyn’s skyline and economy, consolidating sugar filtering, panning, and finishing into three massive, interlinked buildings. The structure’s distinctive punched arch windows, misaligned yet harmoniously repetitive, and the commanding radial brick smokestack on the west facade contribute to its singular post-industrial character.

Preserving History Through Adaptive Reuse

In 2017, PAU, Practice for Architecture and Urbanism began reimagining the Domino Sugar Refinery as part of a larger vision for a dynamic Brooklyn waterfront. Under the master plan by founder Vishaan Chakrabarti, the site is set to host a vibrant mix of creative office spaces, market-rate and affordable housing, retail establishments, and community facilities. The project aims to integrate the existing urban fabric with a quarter-mile of reclaimed waterfront, transforming a historic industrial artifact into a state-of-the-art workspace that honors its storied past.

Innovative Architectural Strategy

Rather than forcing conventional floor heights into the existing masonry shell, PAU strategically nested a new building within the historic envelope, creating a 10- to 12-foot separation that respects the old while allowing modern functionality. This approach enables standardized floor heights, optimal office layouts, and expansive, light-filled interiors that maximize views of Manhattan. The preserved array of historic windows, unobstructed by interior partitions, showcases the refinery’s monumental scale while enhancing natural light penetration throughout the building’s core.

A Contemporary Landmark

Rising above the restored masonry, a new glass barrel vault celebrates the building’s American Round Arch Style, echoing the muscular and idiosyncratic form of the original refinery. On the ground floor, historic windows transform into pedestrian-friendly doors, creating a porous enfilade that connects Kent Avenue to a welcoming public foyer leading to Domino Park. The result is a fusion of heritage and innovation: a space that offers tenants, visitors, and the broader community an immersive experience of Brooklyn’s industrial history while embracing modern architectural design.

Design and Collaboration

The Domino Sugar Refinery project exemplifies collaborative excellence in adaptive reuse. Key contributors include:

• Lighting Consultants: L’Observatoire International
• Landscape Architects: Field Operations
• Structural Engineering: Silman
• MEP Consultants: Ettinger Engineering Associates
• Interior Architects: Dencity Works Architecture

Spanning 460,000 ft², this project not only revives a historic landmark but also sets a benchmark for sustainable and culturally sensitive urban redevelopment.

All photographs are works of  Max Touhey