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For many years, Bushwick Inlet Park ^[6] was nothing more than a glimmer in the eye of North Brooklyn residents longing for more waterfront spaces to brighten up their nabes. Now it looks like the troubled park ^[7] is finally getting closer to fruition (sort of ^[8]), and we recently stopped by to snap some pics of its facility building, which is topped with a swirling green roof and decked out with sustainable features. Click through our gallery to see some photos of the parts of the park that are nearing completion.

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Bushwick Inlet Park ^[6] has been an emotional roller coaster ride for Greenpoint and Williamsburg denizens, who were promised a new outdoor space by Mayor Bloomberg back in 2005. Since then, the area has seen an influx of residents, but only a small portion of what was originally proposed has actually been completed. The main cause of the stalling has been lack of funding and this summer, the city sent out a call for developers’ proposals to purchase air rights ^[7] on Commercial St. in Brooklyn to raise more cash to complete the park. So far, we haven’t seen an update on that plan but it does seem like some progress has been made to the park (even though a fence still surrounds the green roof of the facility building, which appears to still need a good amount of work).

Designed by Kiss and Cathcart Architects ^[9], the park’s multi-purpose athletic field (Phase 1) is already open and has been in use by local soccer teams. Phase 2 consists of a building for community facilities and park operations and a waterfront area wit a pebble beach, a freshwater pool and a grassy hill. According to the architects’ website ^[10], Phase 2 is scheduled to be completed in early 2013.

When completed, the 15,530 sq. ft. facilities building will boast a 70 kW solar ^[11] canopy above its upper plaza that the architects project will be able to provide over half of the building’s energy needs. The structure will also feature a high-performance building envelope and systems that will save approximately 34% of energy compared to ASHRAE ^[12]90/1-2004 baseline. In addition to creating an eye-catching design detail, the vertical louvers on the outside of the building will provide shading and roof overhangs and the insulating green roof will also work to naturally cool the interior of the building. The structure’s heating and AC will be provided via ground source heat pumps.

+ Bushwick Inlet Park ^[6]

+ Kiss and Cathcart Architects ^[9]