Dock 72 – Brooklyn Navy Yard | Fogarty Finger | World Design Awards 2021

Fogarty Finger: Winner of World Design Awards 2021. After being engaged to design the interior public and amenity spaces at Dock 72 in the Fall of 2015, our design team completely immersed themselves in the rich and vibrant historic surroundings of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Our team was deeply inspired by the historic spirit of innovation, connectivity and creative collaboration that has long been a major current in the Navy Yard. The site for Dock 72 has incredible views back towards Manhattan but it was the magic of the Navy Yard that drew our eyes inward towards the Yard itself.

For the entrance and lobby, we felt driven to create a series of “portals” or rooms marching down the length of the lobby that allowed for varying work and communal spaces. This design approach brought a functionality and purpose to the space and also directed views towards the Navy Yard itself.

The architecture and detailing were inspired by the structure of ships, sail patterns, industrial elements and materials found in the Yard itself. A color palette and “story” was carefully curated and inspired by the vibrant color, texture and patina within the Navy Yard. Inspiration was drawn from the sun-faded colors of the ships passing through as well as the architectural materials employed in the historic Admirals Row.

The rooms called for a story or narrative to connect the series of spaces. The design team submerged themselves in historic and contextual research and ultimately landed on a narrative inspired by the Plimsoll line: an indicator on a ship’s hull that marks the journey through varying levels of water. Four different types of water that ships sail through are deep water, summer water, fresh water and tropic water. We commissioned four Brooklyn-based artists to create custom murals that told the Plimsoll line story. The power in the Plimsoll line story itself aligned all of the project’s partners and owners.

Each artist was assigned a type of water and a color palette with colors derived from the cranes, rusted ships, equipment, ropes, metals and other found items within the Navy Yard itself. With only those two parameters, the artists then had free reign to interpret the story and imbue the murals with their own personal style.

When visitors walk into the lobby of Dock 72, the first thing they see is a neon yellow Plimsoll line symbol on the wall. Then, running along the entire stretch of the lobby are murals created by Brooklyn-based artists Dan Funderburgh, Kristin Texeira, Greg Lamarche, and Bryce Wymer.

Art and FF&E were a main conduit for uniting all three clients: Partnering with local artists, artisans and craftsmen excited the entire team and emphasized a spirit of community inherent in the Navy Yard itself.

Dock 72’s lobby was completed in Fall 2019. Work is nearing completion for the building’s interior amenities including a café and seating area, a juice bar on the fitness level, and bar and lounge on the 16th Floor.

Project Details
Firm
Fogarty Finger

Project Name
Dock 72 – Brooklyn Navy Yard

Architect/Designer
Robert Finger, AIA

World Design Awards Category
Public Building Interior Built

Project Location
New York

Team
Robert Finger, AIA, Alexandra Cuber, AIA, LEED AP, Tin Min Fong, Candace Rimes, Garrett Rock, AIA, Taylor Fleming, Allie Mathison, Evita Fanou, Jacob Laskowski, Carl Laffan, Chris Worton

Country
United States

Photography ©Credit
©Connie Zhou

Fogarty Finger is committed to redefining the urban built environment through evocative and pragmatic projects. The firm’s award-winning work captures the spirit of its surroundings while creating a layered sense of materiality and refinement. Results encapsulate smart design solutions that are responsive to the moment yet timeless in appeal.

The firm’s prominent commercial and residential projects showcase strength in architecture and interior design. The architecture practice authors notable large-scale ground-up projects in NYC and nationally. The interior design practice establishes a distinct voice by bringing color, warmth and culture in creating consistently beautiful commercial and multi-family residential settings.

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