Gowanus Canal Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities Project Readies for Excavation in Gowanus, Brooklyn

By: Michael Young and Matt Pruznick 8:00 am on June 5, 2023

Excavation is about to get underway for the Gowanus Canal Combined Sewer Overflow Facilities project, a wastewater retention complex spanning three properties at 242 and 270 Nevins Streets and 234 Butler Street in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Designed by Selldorf Architects and managed by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the development will consist of a two-story head house with underground water retention tanks and a 1.6-acre public park with landscaping by DLAND Studio. Hazen and Sawyer, and Brown and Caldwell are engineering consultants and Gowanus Canal Constructors is the general contractor for the project, which occupies a full block bound by Butler Street to the north, DeGraw Street to the south, Nevins Street to the east, and the Gowanus Canal to the west.

Recent photographs show the property cleared of its former low-rise industrial occupants. Several excavators, piling machines, trucks, shipping containers, and other various materials are positioned on the northern half of the development, where the head house will eventually rise.

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

The opposite southern end is completely leveled and covered with a layer of gravel.

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

Photo by Michael Young

The park will cover nearly two-thirds of the plot and feature trees, lawns, sculptural seating, garden beds, winding pathways, and a public esplanade along the Gowanus Canal.

The main staircase to the park. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The park space and seating. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The waterfront esplanade. Designed by DLAND Studio

The head house will be situated at the corner of Nevins and Butler Streets and is shown with a façade of red terracotta louvers to facilitate ventilation. Critical equipment will sit 15 feet above the water level, and high-efficiency machinery and photovoltaic panels capable of generating 30kW of electricity will cover the roof. The facility will also incorporate five odor control systems.

The Gowanus CSO Facility. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The ground floor of the Gowanus CSO Facility. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The second floor of the Gowanus CSO Facility. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The rooftop of the Gowanus CSO Facility. Designed by Selldorf Architects

Digital displays with shaded canopies will line the sidewalks and present information on the Gowanus neighborhood, the facility, and the DEP. The NYC Department of Parks and Recreation will maintain the park, which will also feature an ADA-accessible ramp along Nevins Street next to the main staircase.

The Gowanus CSO Facility. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The retention component will consist of nine deep underground tanks with a combined capacity of 8 million gallons of sewage overflow for periods of extreme wet weather. After collection, the facility will pump the runoff to a wastewater treatment plant.

The Gowanus CSO Facility. Designed by Selldorf Architects

The nearest subway from the site is the R train at the Union Street station to the east along 4th Avenue.

The Gowanus Canal CSO facility's anticipated completion date is slated for February 2027, as noted on site.

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