Shakespeare Gordon Studio transforms a century-old munitions factory into a vibrant academic hub, blending industrial heritage with contemporary design in the heart of Brooklyn’s Tech Triangle.
From Factory Floor to Academic Core
Built in 1922 as a munitions factory, the Pearl Building has long stood as a sturdy presence across Jay Street from New York City College of Technology’s (City Tech) New Academic Complex. Its concrete frame, expansive floorplates, and large industrial windows defined its character when City Tech repurposed it in the 1940s.
But decades of heavy use left the interiors dated and fragmented. Shakespeare Gordon Studio (SGS), an NYC-based female-owned practice, was tasked with breathing new life into this six-story structure—an adaptive reuse project that would honour its industrial bones while meeting the demands of a modern academic institution.
Colourful Identity as Wayfinding
The centrepiece of the renovation is the almost 1,600 square metre third floor, once a maze of labs and offices. SGS reimagined it as a suite of four administrative units, each with its own bold colour identity, green, blue, orange, and purple, woven into both the interiors and the central corridor. This chromatic system doubles as wayfinding, turning a rectilinear hallway into a lively spine that connects offices, a shared conference suite, and support spaces.
The design embraces the building’s structural columns, exposing and painting them in bright tones that highlight their role as both support and motif. Acoustic panels, also colour-coded, ensure comfort while reinforcing the playful yet professional atmosphere. Natural light floods the offices through the original curtain walls, maintaining a strong connection to the city beyond.
SGS’s approach balances respect for the Pearl Building’s industrial past with the practical requirements of today’s academic environment. Hazardous material abatement, new AV/IT systems, and ADA-accessible facilities modernize the infrastructure, while furniture, lighting, and graphic design services complete the transformation.
What was once a dark, crowded warren of rooms is now a bright, flexible workspace that reflects City Tech’s role in Brooklyn’s growing innovation ecosystem. The renovation demonstrates how historic structures can be adapted to serve contemporary needs without losing their identity.
A Model for Brooklyn’s Tech Triangle
The Pearl Building renovation is more than a campus upgrade; it’s a statement about the future of downtown Brooklyn. As the Tech Triangle expands, SGS’s project shows how existing building stock can be reimagined to support growth while preserving character.
The result is a dignified, contemporary environment that strengthens City Tech’s presence in the neighbourhood and underscores its contribution to the city’s cultural and economic life.
Project Details
- Location: Brooklyn, New York
- Client: New York City College of Technology (NYCCT), Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY)
- Architect: Shakespeare Gordon Studio
- Completion: 2025
- Size: 1,600 sq. m. (third floor renovation)
- Photography: Alexander Severin Architectural Photography