“Dumbo” (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) is a historic neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Once an aging industrial zone; it is now a bustling, mixed-use area with galleries, shops, restaurants and lofts. The Dumbo Townhouse development is built on the site of an old warehouse - an impressive addition to the neighborhood with five, five-storey luxury units, each about 3,000 sq. ft., with 20 ft. ceilings.
The energy-efficient design, with its louvered façade panel system made of Ductal® UHPC, allows sunlight and shade to filter through to the interior. Each of the 44 large-scale Ductal® panels (18 ft long x 12 ft wide) contain a series of ribs and no rebar, covering a total surface area of 8,650 sq. ft.
According to the Ductal® Architecture Business Development Manager (Kelly Henry), a crucial design requirement was the customized panel color, which had to blend with and compliment the surrounding historic neighborhood, including some older, weathered facades.