PODCASTS > Arcat Detailed Podcast Episode

156: Climate-adaptive Infrastructure | Nevins Landing

51m 48s |

In this episode, Cherise is joined by Chris Fogarty, Co-Founding Partner at Fogarty Finger in New York, also with offices in Atlanta and Boston. They discuss Nevins Landing in Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York.

Nevins Landing stands as a bold new landmark on Brooklyn’s evolving Gowanus waterfront—a transformative mixed-use development that bridges the district’s storied industrial past with its dynamic future. Responding to a site historically prone to flooding and industrial contamination, Nevins Landing integrates climate-adaptive infrastructure into its architectural and landscape framework.

Chris Fogarty, Co Founding Partner - Fogarty Finger, New York

Chris Fogarty is Co-Founding Partner of Fogarty Finger. He oversees the concept and design development of all firm architecture projects.

After studying architecture at University College's Bartlett in London, he received a Masterâs in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh.

Prior to founding Fogarty Finger in 2003, Chris was a Senior Designer at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Architects (SOM) in the London, Washington, D.C. and New York offices, playing a significant role in national and international competitions and in designing award-winning office and mixed-use buildings.

Current and recently finished projects include:

The Eliza/Inwood Library, a ground-up 175,000 SF mixed-use development combining a modern New York Public Library branch with fully affordable housing. Serving Inwood residents, the expansive facility houses the library, 174 residential units, Universal Pre- K and STEM Centers for youth and ACTS Center offering job training, classes and cultural activities;

The Dime in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, a 23-story, 345,000 SF tower merging commercial, retail and multifamily adjoining the existing Dime Bank; and, five new buildings totaling over one million square feet in Gowanus, Brooklyn, among others.

Fogarty Finger has offices in Boston, New York and Atlanta.

Project Name and Location: Nevins Landing, Gowanus, Brooklyn, New York

Nevins Landing is a transformative mixed-use development redefining Brooklyn's Gowanus waterfront.

Designed by Fogarty Finger and developed by Charney Companies and Tavros Capital, the two-tower, 600,000 SF complex introduces 654 new rental residences - 25 percent of which are affordable - along with ground-floor retail, community, and cultural spaces.

With a design that references the site's industrial past, the project is situated between two bridges that span the revitalized Gowanus Canal, symbolizing the connection between the areaâs history and its future.

The two buildings share a unified design language but are distinguished by color: the north tower is clad in red brick, glass fiber reinforced concrete and metal panels, while its southern sibling wears a soft gray.

Nodding to its neighbor - the 117-year-old Powerhouse Arts building - and Brooklyn's broader industrial legacy, arches define the storefronts, entry portals, and podium windows, a motif that continues inside where vaulted lobby nooks offer inviting seating areas.

Rising on land once dominated by industrial use and flood-prone terrain, the project exemplifies sustainable urban reinvention: buildings are elevated above the flood line, streetscapes are flood-proofed and enlivened with new walkways, pocket parks, and public green spaces.

Rooted in Gowanus's collaborative rezoning effort among city agencies, artists, housing advocates, and residents, Nevins Landing embodies a model for inclusive, resilient neighborhood growthâbalancing history, affordability, and design excellence to create a vibrant, livable, and enduring community.