25 Kent: Williamsburg's commercial ziggurat welcomes KITH; Tour Smorgasburg winter market on top floor

By CityRealty Staff | From The New Skyline Friday, December 20, 2019

Photo of 25 Kent Avenue courtesy of Gensler Architects

25 Kent Avenue, Williamsburg’s largest ground-up office development in recent history, debuted earlier this Fall, and for the time being, its high-ceilinged top floor is home to Smorgasburg, which allows the public to shop, dine, and take in the 360-degree views of New York City. Colloquially known as the H-shaped office building, the project introduces a new thoroughfare with a public plaza, art space, shops, and eateries. Earlier this week, a press release announced that popular streetwear brand KITH is slated to relocate its Noho headquarters into the third floor of the building, becoming 25 Kent's first office tenant. Additionally, KITH will also open a new 2,000-square-foot retail store at grade level.

Rendering of 25 Kent with a completed Bushwick Inlet Park (not the actual park design) (Credit: Gensler and HKWN)

“Creating a makerspace in Williamsburg embodies the ideals we hold as a brand that include creating inclusive and innovative experiences in new exciting surroundings" - Ronnie Fieg, founder, KITH

While KITH is the first permanent office tenant at 25 Kent Avenue, a representative from Rubenstein Partners, which developed the building in partnership with Heritage Equity Partners, says the building is in talks with a brewery and several tech companies.

25 Kent Avenue in November 2019 (CityRealty)

Recently, Brooklyn's East River waterfront has seen a spate of eye-catching new developments that includes Ten Grand Street on the Domino Sugar Refinery site, the River Street master plan by Two Trees, and the recently opened Dock 72 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

However, 25 Kent will remain a standout even in the face of increased competition. Its design by Gensler and Hollwich Kushner covers an entire city block, and staggered floors create a ziggurat-like silhouette. KITH employees, and indeed all office tenants, will enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows, flexible floor plates, locker rooms with showers, a bike room, and roof decks and terraces. Furthermore, the stylish office-block is underscored by serious sustainability feature that led to its LEED Gold certification.

Recently, 25 Kent hosted 29Rooms, an artistic installation run by Refinery29, from December 6-15. Last but not least, the eighth floor will remain the temporary home of Smorgasburg’s weekend winter market, which will occupy the space until March 2020. See photos of the Smorgasburg experience, ideal for some holiday shopping, below.