Two Timber Buildings Break Ground in Brooklyn

By Jeff Hamann

Flank, a New York City-based architectural and development firm, announced that it has broken ground on two mass timber, mixed-use developments in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood. These are the first new timber buildings constructed in New York in more than a century. The projects are scheduled for completion by the end of 2018.

Located at 320 and 360 Wythe Ave., one block apart, the two timber office buildings will offer a combined 57,000 square feet of office and 22,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. 360 Wythe, the larger of the two, offers 28 apartment units on its top two floors along with parking underneath the building. Near the Williamsburg Bridge, the two building sites are immediately adjacent to bus service and within walking distance to the M, J, L and Z subway lines. Flank previously acquired the parcels in early 2016 for $57.8 million, according to public records.

In a prepared statement, Mick Walsdorf, co-founder of Flank, said, “320 and 360 Wythe will expand the limits of traditional construction and usher in a new era of sustainability-minded building practices. This is an important project for Williamsburg, for Brooklyn, and for New York City.” This announcement comes alongside a wave of sustainable mass timber office construction, from Hines’ recently-opened T3 in Minneapolis to projects in various stages of development nationwide.

JLL’s Howard Hersch and Michael Berg are handling office leasing at both properties, with RKF’s Alex Beard, Eddie Mamiye and Pierce Thompson marketing the retail space.

Images courtesy of Flank