Sustainability in Architecture: District 3 Brooklyn Garage
In the fourth installment of our Sustainability in Architecture series, “Sustainability in Architecture: District 3 Brooklyn Garage”, we sat down with Paul Bauer, Partner; Patrick McAffrey, Associate Principal; and Lyle Hansen, Project Architect, to discuss Brooklyn’s District 3 Garage, now nearing completion.
Dattner Architects’ Partner-in-Charge Paul Bauer reflects on the design process and the impact the Garage will have on its surrounding community. With growing demand for sustainable practices and LEED-certified facilities, the Department of Sanitation partnered with Dattner Architects to create a facility that is functional, community-conscious, and environmentally responsible.
Project Manager Patrick McAffrey then takes us on site, highlighting the strategies that guided the Garage’s sustainable design. Energy-efficient systems reduce emissions and contribute to a healthier city, while the one-acre planted rooftop, serving as the building’s “fifth façade”, provides an expansive green space for neighboring residents. Extensive glazing further reinforces transparency, creating a visible connection between the community and the essential work happening inside. Finally, Project Architect Lyle Hansen shares insights on how the design team navigated through challenges, including schedule delays while maintaining design integrity and responding to evolving regulatory and operational requirements.
Through these efforts, the District 3 Garage stands as a model of Dattner Architects’ commitment to designing essential architecture that is beautiful, equitable, and sustainable — serving the city and supporting the long-term vitality of the Bedford-Stuyvesant community.
