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September 9, 2009

New Barclay's Center Design Revealed

The new SHoP design for the Barclay's Center, Bruce Ratner's envisioned home for the Nets, has just gone live on the center's website. There are lots of different views on rotation and Curbed has pulled out a bunch of still shots. Not surprisingly, Develop Don't Destroy is already out with a release calling it "lipstick on a corrupt pig." Regardless of your position on Atlantic Yards, there's no denying it's sexier than the most recent renderings, though that's not saying a whole lot.
Atlantic Yards Taps New Arena Architect [Brownstoner]

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The renderings make it look like it is somewhere other than NYC - and the parking lots in some of them? I gues they need parking for the VIP suites' limos....

Posted by: BH76 at September 9, 2009 11:31 AM

This is very cool. SHoP does amazing work.

I like how they've incorporated that exoskeleton like treatment which is similar in color to the surrounding brownstone neighborhood.

Modern, sexy, organic, sleek...all while paying attention to the area in which it resides. Well done.

Posted by: 11217 at September 9, 2009 11:34 AM

quote:
Modern, sexy, organic, sleek...all while paying attention to the area in which it resides.

but the area in which it resides is unmodern, unsexy, (perhaps organic in the form of overpriced food), and unsleek. so it's the total opposite of contextual, but i like it, it looks like F-Zero!! Vroom Vrrom!

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at September 9, 2009 11:37 AM

It resembles a Foreman Grill on the surface of the Death Star.

Posted by: susulah at September 9, 2009 11:37 AM

I never said it was contextual, Rob.

I think a contextual arena would look asinine. It should be something bold, just like the original Gehry design.

Do you just like to shit on things for the sake of shitting on them or do you EVER think before you write something?

Posted by: 11217 at September 9, 2009 11:39 AM

what parking lots? those are renderings of flatbush and atlantic, just with an unrealistically small number of cars.

i like it. i agree it's not contextual, but that doesn't really bother me.

Posted by: i disagree at September 9, 2009 11:43 AM

DDDB should re-arrange the words in their acromym to "Don't Develop and Destroy Brooklyn".

Posted by: ou812 at September 9, 2009 11:47 AM

I always thought the DDDB acronym was asinine. How on earth would AY "destroy" Brooklyn? Ridiculous.

Posted by: East New York at September 9, 2009 11:50 AM

> It resembles a Foreman Grill on the surface of the Death Star.

QOTD. SOTD.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 9, 2009 11:52 AM

Not digging it. Looks like a giant Close 'N' Play.

Posted by: Beau Guest at September 9, 2009 11:54 AM

I hereby declare that this building shall be forever known as "The Platypus". Mark it down.

Posted by: Franz at September 9, 2009 11:54 AM

I was hoping for a giant blonde brick Fedders box with bars on the windows.

Or the insane Gehry one. Whichever.

Posted by: danko at September 9, 2009 12:07 PM

It has a unique facade that will put it on the map. It's not glassy and gaudy like a Gehry design. It will not dominate or disrupt the skyline.

Bottom line, this is the best rendering and concept for the stadium to date.

With a only a few months left to stick a shovel in the ground this is it.

Love it or loath it, it will outlast you, so get used to it.

Posted by: ReMiXxd at September 9, 2009 12:07 PM

DDDB is BS.

If this truly gets built, it doesn't look too bad.

Posted by: bupe at September 9, 2009 12:19 PM

build it already and bring the NETS over. That is better than the hole in the ground.

Posted by: more4less at September 9, 2009 12:27 PM

Shop does great renderings. Actual results may vary. Given what Ratner has already built in the area, the actual building will most probably look like dog poo on 70's commercial center, surrounded by 1,000's of honking New Jersey drivers.

Posted by: Maly at September 9, 2009 1:10 PM

It is much better than the last rendering. Much more interesting. I love the built in carrying handle. (But seriously, I do like it)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 9, 2009 1:14 PM

Looks like a baseball cap.

Posted by: zinka at September 9, 2009 1:17 PM

Zinka, you mean a sun visor right?

Posted by: more4less at September 9, 2009 1:20 PM

NJ currently doesn't support their team, you think they will travel to Brooklyn? Wake up, that's why they are leaving in the first place. They couldn't sell out the Meadowlands when the NETS made into the playoffs. There will NOT be 1000's of Honking NJ drivers. There will be 1000's of people walking to the stadium. There will be 1000's of people taking "how many local trains and busses actually pass through there already?" mass transit, and conveneiently the LIRR. For that matter, make it practically impossible to park there for the Arena and force the mass transit option if that makes you happy. It will still sell out. The arguments against the Arena itself are BS.

Posted by: ou812 at September 9, 2009 1:26 PM

> They couldn't sell out the Meadowlands when the NETS made into the playoffs.

If they couldn't sell out in NJ, why would they do any better in Brooklyn?

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 9, 2009 1:49 PM

I gotta say, it looks pretty cool. It relates far better to its surroundings than the original Gehry design. Buildings should relate to their surroundings in a positive way, but shouldn't be cheap imitations of older buildings. I think its great that we're finally starting to see some bold and cutting edge architecture again in NYC.

Too bad DDDB and its myopically anti-development, reactionary supporters will likely sabotage this and we'll be left with a giant hole stretching for blocks between Clinton Hill and Prospect Heights.

Posted by: clintonhillbuyer at September 9, 2009 1:54 PM

Why does everyone talk about being "left" with a giant hole? Those railyards (that's what the hole is, LIRR tracks and yards) have been there since the 19th century, and were certainly there whenever the commenters here first heard of the place. If you didn't like it then, why did you move here? Did some real estate agent tell you they were going away> Just like the people who bought in those new luxury buildings east of Second Avenue who were told to expect a new subway in a few years...

Posted by: babs at September 9, 2009 2:09 PM

Snark, Cant speak for NJ but NYC is a huge basketball town and the only reason it doesn't feel like it is because the KNICKS stinks. I think NYC is big enough fan base to support 2 basketball teams.

for the old timers in BK, please chime in with the love for the round ball.

I think "BROOKLYN" Nets just carries some heavy brand equity - bet jersey sales would be strong

Posted by: more4less at September 9, 2009 2:11 PM

Babs, the point isnt the "hole" being ugly, etc. rather if presented with the hole or the stadium, there's a bunch of us who prefer the stadium. Nothing against the "hole" and more that some of us prefer the stadium.

Posted by: more4less at September 9, 2009 2:15 PM

You pro-Nets people are ridiculous. You think no Jersey fans will come, or that they will take the subway? On what planet does this scenario occur? People from Brooklyn and Manhattan will take the subway. Everybody else will drive. There will be 1,000's of Jersey drivers if the franchise is to succeed. So in brief: heads you lose, tails you lose. Either way, Ratner will have no problem upgrading to a bigger house in the Hamptons.

Posted by: Maly at September 9, 2009 2:23 PM

It's a pretty rendering. And it might turn out to be a pretty building.

But that doesn't change the economic and land use folly of building a publicly-subsidized spectator sports arena.

Newark already went down that path, so the right thing would be to make the best of a bad situation by letting the Newark Nets share the Pru Center with the Devils.

Posted by: Sparafucile at September 9, 2009 2:26 PM

"Too bad DDDB and its myopically anti-development, reactionary supporters will likely sabotage this and we'll be left with a giant hole stretching for blocks between Clinton Hill and Prospect Heights."

The name of DDDB is DEVELOP, Don't Destroy. There happens to be a difference which rabidly Pro-Ayers conveniently overlook. Most of us have no problem with development, We just want it to be intelligently designed and scaled. I don't think that's too much to ask for.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 9, 2009 2:31 PM

Looks like a Kangol cap in a light summer-weight raffia. It looks as if they put it where PC Richards is though - I am sort of confused where it goes.

I liked Gehry's one a lot better.

Posted by: Stonergut at September 9, 2009 3:01 PM

"The name of DDDB is DEVELOP, Don't Destroy. There happens to be a difference which rabidly Pro-Ayers conveniently overlook. "

bg, really. Can you pls give me an example of ONE development DDDB is in favor of? They should be sued for false advertising...

Posted by: denton at September 9, 2009 3:05 PM

I like it. I think it definitely fits the area better than either the Gehry design or the Becket box. If they can make the transit hub equal to the task of getting all of the people there I would be all for it.

Posted by: wasder at September 9, 2009 3:24 PM

denton: DDDB types want all development to be contextual, i.e. they want all development to be exactly the same size as any building that abuts the site. When it comes to the AY site, the nearby NYCHA towers and the Williamsburg Savings Bank are excluded from this analysis.

Posted by: Polemicist at September 9, 2009 3:35 PM

> DDDB types want all development to be contextual

Nah, I just want it not to be a tax-payer supported boondoggle that adds density without any corresponding increase in vital infrastructure.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 9, 2009 3:43 PM

Actually- that's not true. I happen to like a mix and its unrealistic to think only rowhouses should or would go there. But Ratner's plan is way out of whack. Far too big and far too expensive. Doesn't take infrastructure enough into account and besides sucking up taxpayer money, pitting elements of the community against one another, lacking transparency, expecting and getting special favors, they also demand an entire section of a public street and eminent domain. Gee- why do you think people are against this particular development?

You also forget there was an alternative plan proposed that was not only a good plan, and feasible, but would have paid the MTA more money.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 9, 2009 3:44 PM

"NYC is a huge basketball town and the only reason it doesn't feel like it is because the KNICKS stinks. I think NYC is big enough fan base to support 2 basketball teams."

Right on the money.

Posted by: East New York at September 9, 2009 4:10 PM

Tax payer dollars get misused everyday in hundreds if not thousands of different ways.

Injecting 18,000 people into an underdeveloped area in the DDDB's opinion doesn't aid the community in any way? The optimistic chance that even half that crowd nightly gets hungry or wants to celebrate with a drink after the game should be a boon to the local economy.

As for the traffic, If Manhattan can close off Broadway at 42nd street, why wouldn't brooklyn be able to handle more flow?

This affordable housing thing is becoming a broken record. The stadium will bring more development. There are too many amenities surrounding this area for affordable housing to be front and center. luxury Rentals are the only thing that is worth building right now. Even the Ingersol houses are slowly emptying, StuyTown anyone? Affordable housing should not have such a luxury as to be near so many trains. Take a bus to the train or rent in a brownstone or flipped condo.

Make Downtown BK a real Downtown!

Posted by: ReMiXxd at September 9, 2009 4:17 PM

"The name of DDDB is DEVELOP, Don't Destroy. There happens to be a difference which rabidly Pro-Ayers conveniently overlook. Most of us have no problem with development, We just want it to be intelligently designed and scaled. I don't think that's too much to ask for."

Really??? Honestly, you think DDDB has added anything constructive to the debate over AY? I'm not "rabidly pro-AY," the project has some real problems, but I think I stand with a "silent majority" in Prospect Heights/Clinton Hill/Ft. Greene who think the giant urban scar that separates two of the most vibrant nabes in the borough should be developed. And I think that I'm not the only person around these parts who thinks its a shame that DDDB has so monopolized the conversation and backed itself and local electeds into such a corner with its rhetoric that little, if any, productive negotiation or converstaion is practical.

Its a shame. Something good really could have emerged out of this process if groups like DDDB and its supporters had been a little more rational and constructive.

If you really think DDDB is in favor of "responsible" development, than I'm sorry, but you're kidding yourself. The fact is that DDDB is BANANAism (Build Absolutly Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody) in its most sophisticated form.

Posted by: clintonhillbuyer at September 9, 2009 4:18 PM

I also thought the rendering looks like a cap. That made me wish Capital One, not Barclay's, bought the naming rights. Then announcers and others could say the game was played "at The Cap."

Posted by: altervoce at September 9, 2009 4:51 PM

"This affordable housing thing is becoming a broken record. The stadium will bring more development. There are too many amenities surrounding this area for affordable housing to be front and center."

OH? Really? So people who don't earn as much as you shouldn't have the same benefits? Perhaps you didn't know this country is a democracy? Try Monaco, why don't you? they still have a king as I understand it.

Clintonhillbuyer- your comments are exactly why DDDB sounds so over the top. Because from the very beginning pro-AYers decided they would brook no dissent and Ratner decided to demonize anyone who spoke out against his project. While you may not like their tactics, its simplistic to think all they want is nothing. Or an imitation brownstone neighborhood. That is untrue. Not sure what "silent majority" you're talking about but most of the people I know in the area (and I live closeby the area too) aren't complaining about the aesthetics of the railyards so much as they re complaining about the scale of AY and the sweetheart deals we are expected to fund for Ratner.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 9, 2009 4:52 PM

“The arena design is irrelevant. It's all lipstick on a corrupt pig, window-dressing on a boondoggle....It is unconscionable that any elected official could support this farcical project any more."

These guys are looking for a productive, meaningful and constructive conversation that will result in something building built at AY?? REALLY???

B-A-N-A-N-A. Sorry, but that's what it sounds like from where I sit. I've spent many years in and around land use politics in NYC. When your strategy is to develop/support a completely different, alternative plan and ignore the plan that already been submitted, than either you're monumentally naive or you have no interest in seeing anything built on the site.

Posted by: clintonhillbuyer at September 9, 2009 5:08 PM

If you may recall, the alternative plan was submitted before the MTA made a decision. Since the city is supposed to take bids and get the best price, they had every right to submit it. And it was a seriously plan. On the other hand, if you like back room deals and letting the taxpayers pay your way while they get screwed, and having the MTA get less money at a time when they have a huge deficit, then the Ratner AY plan is right up your alley.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 9, 2009 5:21 PM

DDDb is purely reactionary and hates everything just for the sake of it. Even if Ratner agreed to build the UNITY plan, DDDB would still bitch and moan. There is simply no pleasing them, ever.

Posted by: Big Jugs at September 9, 2009 7:07 PM

bxgrl - if you knew 1/10th of what you think you do you'd be a genius. instead you're 10x clueless. and harmless thankfully.

Posted by: BrooklynLove at September 9, 2009 9:29 PM

If my biceps were as big as Ratner's head, I could probably pass a basketball from my roof top to the AY site. DDDB stopped the machine. Hats off! The deal was too shady, and the early buy-out guys who capitalized are laughing it up.

This rendering is a lot better, but he needs to keep it short, and be quick about it.

RE: Affordable Housing pie in the sky dreams
1-Rathner's buddies already offered up some of their failed condo projects as affordable housing.
2-Bloomberg is building another strip of affordable homes across the street from AY. Stop by and visit.
3-Atlantic terminal projects are already there in full swing, and super affordable. Fill out an application if you're interested.

So, why would he build more? And what's affordable? 500k for a one bedroom 10 yrs from now?? Yeah ok. I bet he buys one of those projects. He did buy an old public school,the rail yards from the MTA when others offered more, and walks around with an eminent domain black card.

Ratner knows damn well those who desperately need affordable housing really need a 2 or 3 bedroom apt. He'll make slightly discounted luxury apts if anything or blame DDDB for running out of cash and build nada.

Posted by: jack slade at September 9, 2009 10:28 PM

I've been around for a while. Sure this *may* look cool to some of you now...but basically it's a bit of that old brutalism in architecture that will alienate the streetscape and the community.

PS, they might as well make sure they project the bank's name on the clouds overhead...since they've secured the rights from the MTA to name the station for$200K/year to rename Atlantic-Pacific Street after the bank!

It all comes down to: UGHHHHhhhhh!

Posted by: BrooklynGreene at September 10, 2009 12:51 AM

This needs to be built NOW!
DDDB has been terrible to delay this needed prject---they are the greedy pigs, not Eichner---get over it and build it--If you build it, they will come!!!

Posted by: bobbyd at September 10, 2009 8:12 AM

It's not awesome, but I do like it much better than Gehrys plan. I always thought Gehry's plan was too claustrophobic. This is a small improvement.

Posted by: funstraw at September 10, 2009 9:27 AM

Please, please, please make this happen Ratner! I will be first in line to buy season tickets.

Posted by: Rookie at September 10, 2009 9:42 AM

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/arts/design/10yards.html?_r=1&hpw

I hate rust buildings. I think they always look like someone couldn't afford paint or sealer. They bleed and look miserable. I have yet to see ONE of them that I like. I also think the rendering looks like a closed cell phone with a bottle cap opener. Probably represents the sports bars that will open on Atlantic and Flatbush like near Madison Square Garden...anyone think that will be an enticing neighborhood.
You really need to give DDDB credit. They have done exactly what they intended to do which has been successful so far. You need to admire success when they clearly were the underdog fighting the Mayor, multiple Governors and the powers that be and BTW they are given too much credit for being successful, its the economy stupid....

Posted by: smeyer418 at September 10, 2009 9:47 AM

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September 9, 2009

New Barclay's Center Design Revealed

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