Domino Square: A New Public Plaza on the Williamsburg Waterfront
Design and Features
A view of the newly opened Domino Square, a public plaza on the Williamsburg waterfront, showcasing its amphitheater seating, lush green spaces, and central plaza designed for year-round activities.
Designed for flexible public programming, the space at 320 Kent Avenue has a central egg-shaped plaza that in the winter will be used as an ice skating rink, and is framed to the east, along Kent Avenue, with stepped, amphitheater-like seating that offers a view of the plaza, the waterfront, and the East River as far as the Statue of Liberty.
The seating, topped by a green roof, is built into a striking concrete and glass retail arcade that fronts Kent Avenue and will soon house food vendors. Its zigzagging peaks and valleys frame an opening to the plaza from Kent Avenue.
Landscape Design
Along the two side streets leading to the river, the built-up structure slopes down to street level. As well as the green roofs, the plaza is surrounded by green areas that are still being landscaped and include plantings of alvia, nepeta, and perovskia.
Benjamin Cadena of Studio Cadena, which, with Field Operations, designed the plaza, said the porous-looking arcade building is meant to bridge the gap between the two residential towers known as One Domino Square and the Refinery, and create a room-like effect for those entering into the public space.
Community Engagement
Lisa Tziona Switkin of Field Operations, which is behind the landscape design of the entire Domino redevelopment, said the choice of concrete, oxidized steel, and timber for the arcade adds an "eclecticness that feels very Williamsburg" to the streetscape.
She said when designing the new plaza, which she called "a sibling not a twin" of Domino Park, the team asked locals what they wanted to see in the new public space and what they thought was missing in terms of public amenities.
Future Plans
Underneath the plaza, slated to host farmers markets, movie nights, and other activities, a more than $10 million wastewater treatment plant will soon treat the wastewater of the entire Domino development. Two Trees’ Managing Director of External Affairs Dave Lombino said the plant will be up and running by 2025.
The site was at one time slated to hold a 45-story residential tower, but Two Trees made the decision to instead convert it to open space and use the development rights to increase the heights of the surrounding buildings.
Conclusion
Domino Square is one of the final pieces of the entire Domino redevelopment, whose site Two Trees purchased for $180 million in 2012. The plaza is a testament to strong planning and design, and its opening marks a new era for the Williamsburg waterfront.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of Domino Square?
A: Domino Square is a public plaza designed for flexible public programming, including year-round activities such as ice skating, farmers markets, and movie nights.
Q: What is the design of the plaza?
A: The plaza features an egg-shaped central plaza, amphitheater-like seating, and a green roof. The seating is built into a striking concrete and glass retail arcade that fronts Kent Avenue.
Q: What is the plan for the wastewater treatment plant?
A: The plant will treat the wastewater of the entire Domino development and is expected to be up and running by 2025.
Q: What was the original plan for the site?
A: The site was originally slated to hold a 45-story residential tower, but Two Trees decided to convert it to open space and use the development rights to increase the heights of the surrounding buildings.
