In fall 2023, Two Trees Management, a Brooklyn-based real estate developer, began opening the first phase of The Refinery at Domino, the centerpiece of the 11-acre Domino Sugar Refinery project. The landmark site has been reimagined by PAU as a 15-story, 460,000-square-foot mixed-use destination that blends modern glass architecture with the preserved industrial masonry of the original refinery.
© Max Touhey
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the interior with natural light, while office tenants benefit from an array of on-site amenities. A signature 27,000-square-foot glass dome penthouse offers sweeping 360-degree views and serves as communal workspaces, complemented by a private club and dedicated event venues. The building also includes roughly 60,000 square feet of retail space, anchored by wellness amenities such as a fitness club, an indoor pool and a full-service gym. For cyclists, there is a dedicated bicycle lobby with its own entrance ramp and secure bike parking.
The Refinery sits adjacent to existing Domino food and beverage offerings, including Tacocina and Misi by Missy Robbins, and will add new ground-floor dining options that open directly into Domino Park. Next to The Refinery, the one-acre Domino Square functions as an outdoor events and programming venue and completes the six-acre public realm of Domino Park.
© Max Touhey
PAU’s design strategy cleverly integrates a contemporary glass volume with the historic brick facade. A deliberate 12-foot gap between the new curtain wall and the original masonry creates standardized floor heights while also framing a light, airy perimeter that maximizes daylight and outdoor access across the building’s full depth.
Within that 12-foot buffer, a new biophilic ecosystem lines the building perimeter. Seventeen 30-foot American sweet gum and native pin oak trees stand alongside lush plantings to form a vertical garden that wraps the structure. This planted buffer introduces a fresh approach to workplace design by bringing nature directly into the office experience.
The original Domino Sugar Refinery played a pivotal role in the development of Brooklyn’s waterfront during the 19th and 20th centuries. Its remaining structures now serve as tangible reminders of New York City’s industrial past and the architectural legacy of America’s industrial revolution.
© Max Touhey
Designed by Theodore Havemeyer in a Romanesque Revival style, the original refinery featured characteristic round-arch windows and, following an 1882 fire, incorporated iron framing for improved fire resistance. After roughly 120 years of operation, the refinery ceased production in 2004. In 2007, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the complex as a historic landmark site to recognize its industrial and architectural significance.
Key historic elements remain: the old Havemeyer building retains a chimney rising more than 214 feet and a variety of original window styles and sizes. Many of the refinery’s sugar-processing machines have been repurposed as interpretive relics displayed throughout Domino Park. Atop the preserved structure, an energy-efficient LED replica of the iconic “Domino Sugar” neon sign replicates the original sign’s dimensions, a change that resonates emotionally for long-time East Side Manhattan residents who grew up with the landmark silhouette.
Complementing The Refinery, the One Domino Square residential building and the adjacent one-acre Domino Square community space have opened this year. Over the full development program, Two Trees Management plans to build approximately 2,800 apartments across four residential towers, with 700 units designated as affordable housing for low-income residents. The master plan also allocates around 600,000 square feet for commercial office space and approximately 200,000 square feet for retail within the Domino site, completing a large-scale mixed-use transformation of this historic waterfront complex.