The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Power Station is a prominent building on the Gowanus Canal that recalls the industrial era of Gowanus when it was built in 1903 to supply electricity to the railroad and streetcar system. The building was once part of a complex that included the since demolished Boiler House adjacent to it. The remaining Turbine Hall was decommissioned in the 1950s and has continued to deteriorate over time. In the 2000s, the building became a destination for graffiti artists and became locally known as the “Batcave.” In 2012 the site was acquired by the Powerhouse Environmental Arts Foundation, a not-for-profit organization created to redevelop the property and manage operations as Powerhouse Arts.

PBDW and Herzog & de Meuron were retained to restore and revitalize the existing Turbine Hall building and design an addition to accommodate the needs of the new arts institution. This adaptive re-use project aims to transform the old Turbine Hall building into a fabrication and teaching workshop facility for artists in five mediums – metal, wood, ceramic, textiles, and printmaking.

The new complex echoes the original power plant in its massing and site usage, including an addition to the Turbine Hall that matches the proportions of the original Boiler House. The structure of the Turbine Hall and many of its interior surfaces (graffiti included) have been maintained and featured in the rehabilitated complex. The top floor of the Turbine Hall is the Grand Hall, an exhibition space and event venue. The project’s impact will play a critical role in enriching the cultural, environmental, and recreational spaces for the Gowanus area.