The public plaza and events space along southern Domino Park opened to the public on October 1 —ice skating rink coming this November.
Surrounded by dynamic and eye-catching mixed-use buildings on three sides, Domino Square is conceived as a civic space that both complements Domino Park and serves as its own distinct place. Comprising a full city block, or 33,300 square feet, Domino Square was designed to create a “bowl-like” interior, with a lifted edge comprised of distinctive and lush planting beds and tiered seating that create a “theater-in-the-round” effect. Circulation through and amidst the Square is open and inviting with scenic views of the landmarked Refinery building, Williamsburg Bridge, iconic syrup tanks within Domino Park, and the East River NYC skyline.
Domino Square will host larger scale community activations such as farmer’s markets, graduations for neighborhood schools, salsa nights and more. The square will also serve as a hub for seasonal community activities year-round, including the debut of Williamsburg’s first waterfront ice skating rink, opening this November for the winter season. The rink will be located in the circular interior.
“From the moment we bought Domino, we have been focused on creating one of the most highly utilized and diverse open spaces in all of Brooklyn. We have obviously been thrilled with how the community has responded to and adopted Domino Park. Now, with the opening of the Square, we will be able to accommodate a broader array of activities that will attract neighbors from all walks of life. Domino Square will enhance everyone’s life in South Williamsburg. We are really proud of what we have built and excited to see its potential as it evolves,” said Jed Walentas, principal at Two Trees Management.
Domino Square is designed by landscape architecture firm Field Operations, the team responsible for the original Domino Park site and also the High Line in Manhattan, in collaboration with Brooklyn-based architecture firm Studio Cadena. A retail arcade designed by Studio Cadena is created from a series of cast-in-place concrete piers along the street perimeter, forming a loggia that frames retail spaces and entry points for the park. Material choices are purposefully rugged and utilitarian, reflecting the building’s placement near the East River, the need for storm resilience, and continuing a narrative through line of the Domino site as a formerly industrial, adaptive reuse project. The concrete piers are sandblasted to reveal the bluestone aggregate and add tone and texture to the facade. Rather than hiding smokestacks from the water treatment facility below, instead these tubular ducts penetrate the building and prominently appear above the landscaped roof.
Domino Square is part of Two Trees’ broader effort to redevelop the 11-acre Domino Sugar Factory Site just north of the Williamsburg Bridge into a dynamic mixed-use neighborhood complete with world-class office and residential space, the public open space, popular food and beverage offerings and retail. This development launched with 325 Kent in 2017, Domino Park opened in 2018, followed by four more projects (two residential and two office buildings), and now Domino Square. Two Trees has prioritized cutting-edge design and architecture, community input, sustainability, and waterfront connectivity throughout the long-term planning process.
The Greenline 