Brooklyn Edison Building

Designated: June 18, 2024

Designed by the lauded firm McKenzie, Voorhes & Gmelin noted for such buildings as the ATT Long Distance Building and Brooklyn Borough Hall, the Brooklyn Edison Building helps tell the story of Downtown Brooklyn’s illustrious commercial history.

The building’s Renaissance Revival grandeur expresses the ambition of the Borough. At the same time, the historic changes made to the building, including changes to its siting that render the Adams St. facade more highly visible, articulate Brooklyn’s 20th century development. To look at this building is to watch time pass across stone.

LPC identifies the building’s original primary facades as those facing Pearl and Willoughby Streets, and notes that the Adams Street facade was exposed during construction of Brooklyn Civic Center and expansion of Adams Street in the 1950s. In the 21st Century, that facade received even more attention. Storefronts were added along Adams Street in 2009, interpreting and replicating elements of the historic arched windows found on the Pearl and Willoughby facades.

From every angle, this building offers a monumental embodiment of Brooklyn’s history.

STATUS Designated Individual Landmark

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Doreen Gallo: DUMBO Neighborhood Alliance

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Fern Luskin: Lamartine Place Historic District; Friends of Lamartine Place & Gibbons Underground Railroad Site

Local Voices

“HDC provided guidance and shared information during that process—we knew which Council members were going one way or another and we changed a few minds. I don’t think NoHo would have had as cohesive a district had it not been for HDC’s aid.”

Zella Jones: NoHo Historic District; NoHo East; and NoHo Extension

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“I remember Richard saying at a meeting, we have someone here from HDC, Nadezhda Williams, Director of Preservation and Research, to help us. She said to us, ‘You are not the only ones going through this.’ HDC included us in an enormous community”

Erika Petersen: West End Preservation Society

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"HDC has begun a series of projects to highlight the Bronx's architectural and cultural history. From booklet's and research highlighting specific sites and historic districts to the HDC's symposium in October 2018 to the latest community-based committee to look into further possible sites to qualify for landmarking, the HDC has established projects that will serve the Bronx community well."

Elena Martinez
City Lore, Folklorist
Bronx Music Heritage Center, Co-Artistic Director

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"Welcome2TheBronx is grateful for the advocacy done by the Historic Districts Council on behalf of the people of The Bronx. Through their deep connections and understanding of the importance of preserving our local histories, The Bronx has been able to have several spotlights shown on endangered communities as gentrification creeps into the borough."

Ed García Conde,
founder and Executive Director,
Welcome2TheBronx

Nearby + Similar Buildings

Designated Individual Landmark

Consolidated Edison Company Building

Manhattan