SEE: $31.6M Reconstruction Finished At Historic Bed-Stuy Building

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — A massive restoration project has wrapped up on one of the city's historic buildings on the Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy border, the city announced.

City officials announced Monday that they have completed a $31.6-million project refurbishing a 356 Flushing Ave., a circa-1904 building that takes up an entire block on near Kent Avenue. The building is used by the Department of Environmental Protection's water tunnel and shaft maintenance staff.

“This historic building, which houses a vital and under-appreciated water supply function, has been fully reinforced and waterproofed and is now ADA-accessible with upgraded lighting, environmental controls and fire alarm systems,” said the city's Design and Construction commissioner, Jamie Torres-Springer, whose department oversaw the restoration. “We’re proud of this project, which was undertaken with great care to preserve the character of this 120-year-old structure.”

The upgrade has kept the 105,000-square-foot building under construction since at least 2017.

Its restoration included facade repairs, a new roof, new locker room and bathroom, a skylight replacement, structural rehabilitation, repairs to the building's windows and accessibility upgrades. The heat, electrical, water and gas lines were also upgraded, including new fire alarm systems and water and fire-proofing that made the building safer, according to the department.

The Flushing Avenue building was first used by the Street Cleaning Department, an early version of the Department of Sanitation. Back then, it included a blacksmith’s workshop, wheel-wright works, and 250 horse stalls.

It was built in 1904 and designed by Warren & Wetmore, the same firm that designed city landmarks like Grand Central Terminal.

"Although the building is not designated a New York City Landmark, its appearance and design elements are of landmark quality and, therefore, it was refurbished and upgraded in order to preserve the historic character of the building," the department said.

Check out photos of the building, provided by DEP here: