Remsen Yard

The Remsen Yard Reconstruction is a 99,697-square-foot maintenance facility for NYC's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that supports both water and sewer operations. The project is to exemplify New York City's commitment to design excellence and environmental sustainability.

The 2½ acre property accommodates DEP vehicles, their equipment storage and material piles, and personnel support facilities, such as locker rooms, bathrooms and administrative offices. The two-story storage/administrative building is integrated into a large translucent glass roof covering the vehicle parking, fueling operations and material piles. Equipment and material storage, machine shops and tempered vehicle garages are located on the first floor, and all administrative and support functions located on the second. This scheme was developed from early consensus workshops with all user groups, to solve DEP operational issues as well as integrate the projects’ high performance goals. Deemed “the productive roof”, the roof shelters the yard operations and piles, and also collects rainwater for reuse and produces up to 50kw of electricity from integrated photovoltaic panels.

This proposed expansion and reconfiguration will include offices, machine shops, and enclosed garage space. DEP was very supportive of the architects’ efforts to make the building environmentally sensitive and sustainable, including the use of photovoltaic panels in the 81,500-square-foot, single-gable roof, a rainwater collection system used to facilitate truck washing, and natural ventilation and lighting, made possible in part by the creation of a 30’-by-100’ courtyard to be planted with vines and wild grasses. City zoning ordinances require that such facilities be enclosed by opaque walls. Parts of an existing 9’-high brick wall were consequently maintained, but windows and driveways will provide “keyhole” views of the operations housed within. The building is located along a rail corridor between the residential neighborhoods of East Flatbush and Canarsie in an area dominated by industrial structures and thus home to little pedestrian traffic. This project is intended to transform the building into a destination for school groups studying the city’s infrastructure and thus help to animate the area. The building will qualify for a LEED silver rating and possibly a gold rating.