BROOKLYN, N.Y.—At 275 Atlantic Avenue in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, a bold experiment in justice design is taking shape. The site, once home to the Brooklyn Detention Complex, is now the future location of a 22-story, 712,150-square-foot detention facility—part of New York City’s Borough-Based Jails (BBJ) Program aimed at closing Rikers Island and decentralizing incarceration.
Designed by global architecture firm HOK, the Brooklyn facility is envisioned as a more humane, community-integrated model of detention. The building will include 1,040 beds, 30,000 square feet of community facility space, two cellar levels, 100 enclosed parking spaces, and an underground tunnel connecting to the adjacent courthouse. The full-block site spans approximately 59,900 square feet, and the design emphasizes transparency, accessibility, and rehabilitation.
HOK’s design principles focus on seven key areas: urban relationships, streetscape and open space, building exterior, community space, public areas, staff areas, and custody areas. The facility will feature natural light-filled interiors, dedicated spaces for programming and services, and architectural elements that promote safety and dignity. The goal is to create an environment that supports rehabilitation and reflects modern values of justice.
Construction is being led by Tutor Perini, with steel erection underway as of mid-2025. The project is slated for completion in 2029, making it one of the most significant civic infrastructure undertakings in Brooklyn’s recent history.
Community engagement remains central to the BBJ program. The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) hosts regular advisory meetings and publishes weekly construction updates. Environmental monitoring and traffic mitigation efforts are also in place to minimize disruption to the surrounding neighborhood.
While critics question the ethics and cost of building new jails, supporters argue that if incarceration must exist, it should be reimagined to prioritize accountability, equity, and care. The Brooklyn facility aims to embody that shift—not just through policy, but through design.
As steel rises and concrete sets, the Brooklyn jail stands as a symbol of a city investing in a more just future—one where architecture becomes a tool for healing, not just containment.
