The Elegant Transformation of Domino Sugar Refinery

A sugar refinery that has been operating for 120 years, the Domino Sugar Refinery, was converted into a curved glass and steel office building, creating a new face as a waterfront office center, in Brooklyn. 

Domino Sugar Refinery by PAU (cr: Max Touhey) 

The sugar refinery which was originally built by Henry Havemeyer stopped operating in 2004, then renovated in 2017 by a local architect studio, PAU, into a ​​450,000-square-meters office building. Retaining the original structure of the old building, PAU placed the new building in the middle of the old building structure by adding structural blocks that connect the old building with the new building. This innovative approach acts as a response to the existing complex floor configuration.

Placed the new building in the middle of the old building structure (cr: Max Touhey) 

The section detail of Domino Refinery Sugar (cr: Max Touhey) 

By integrating the new building within the existing building, a 10-12 feet gap emerged which now becomes a lush garden with towering trees. Apart from that, the spaces between the old and new walls also increase the lighting in the space where sunlight can enter the space through the glass walls, flooding the spaces inside with ample natural light.

The 10-12 feet gap becomes a lush garden with towering trees (cr: Max Touhey)  

The spaces between the old and new walls also increase the lighting in the space (cr: Max Touhey) 

Glass walls framed in metal present an interesting view in the form of brick walls from old buildings that frame views of the blue sea adjacent and Manhattan City. The transformation of existing windows into doors on the ground floor allows pedestrians to pass through the building from Kent Avenue to a public lobby that connects them to the beauty of Domino Park.

The bright and spacious working space presents an interesting view of the blue sea adjacent and Manhattan City (cr: Max Touhey) 

In addition, the curved shape of the roof adds an accent to the beauty of the Roman revival architecture inherent in the building. The chimney tower of the old building was retained to preserve the building's authentic facade. The marriage between the old building and the new building with contrasting materials creates a building of a new civilization while still celebrating the concept of historic Roman architecture.

The distinctive curved roof adds an accent to the beauty of the Roman revival architecture inherent in the building (cr: Max Touhey)  

Domino Sugar Refinery by PAU (cr: Max Touhey)