Bedford Stuyvesant Campus by Adjaye Associates Aims to Confront the Prevailing Racial Inequality

The Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation commissioned the UK firm Adjaye Associates to develop a bedford stuyvesant campus in Brooklyn that would feature a community center and a theatre. Three buildings will make up the campus in downtown Brooklyn at Fulton Street.

Two of the buildings are 16 stories tall, and the other is 13 stories tall; the theatre and cultural center are each four stories tall. The 840,000-square-foot bedford stuyvesant campus will be home to a wide range of open and commercial spaces as well as a community hub, theatre, and office space devoted to learning and community development.

©Adjaye Associates

“The bedford stuyvesant campus draws inspiration from Bed-Stuy’s thriving culture to develop a neighborhood-specific strategy for addressing the city’s racial wealth divide. The design plan focuses on in-depth discussions with locals and emphasizes the larger society while guaranteeing private areas for cooperation between groups with similar goals. As Restoration implements the transformational plan, we look forward to seeing the campus’s realization and potential to serve as an example for others.” As David Adjaye, the studio’s founder put it.

©Adjaye Associates

Bedford Stuyvesant Campus’ Concept

The designs for the cultural center and hypothetical Billie Holiday theatre show a two-story building that extends over a plaza and is supported by a collection of smaller buildings that are spaced apart to resemble crutches.

The building’s façade will be curved and arched, including massive windows, and located between two moderately tall towers. Cantilevered sections of the building will allow for clear views of the city between the lower floors, making the entire block accessible to foot traffic.

The campus consists of three structures, one of which is the striking Billie Holiday Theatre. ©Adjaye Associates

“Residents now have a central gathering place for the arts, learning, community service, and commerce thanks to the bedford stuyvesant campus. The campus builds upon its predecessors’ work and makes significant strides in addressing locals’ concerns through community investment and the provision of well-paying employment opportunities. “US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made this statement.

There will be a lot of symmetry between the theatre and the adjacent office buildings; the terraces will appear halfway up the tower as it tapers to a sleek design. Restoration Software Engineering Fellowship, Restoration Business Center, and Center for Personal Financial Health are just a few of the outreach and development initiatives that will call this building home.

According to Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation CEO and president Blondel Pinnock, the first phase of redevelopment is expected to cost between $150 and $175 million, with the city already investing $50 million. Given the necessity for a zoning change, the city will review the proposal, with final approval from the City Planning Commission and City Council.