Brooklyn, NY Lendlease, a leading integrated real estate group, and joint venture partner of Aware Super, one of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, has celebrated the topping-out of 1 Java St.’s two towers, reaching 37 and 20 stories, along the Greenpoint waterfront. The residential development contains 834 rental units, 30% of which are designated as affordable housing under the Affordable New York Housing Program, as well as 13,000 s/f of neighborhood-oriented retail space and a climate-resilient shoreline.
Upon completion in 2026, 1 Java St. will be the largest residential geothermal building in New York State, according to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and is believed to be one of the largest geothermal residential buildings in the U.S. The project’s vertical closed-loop geoexchange system will reduce annual carbon emissions from heating and cooling by 53% compared with typical residential systems. As an all-electric building, 1 Java St. will also avoid carbon emissions related to the use of natural gas.
“We are proud to reach this significant milestone of structural completion for a project that establishes a new model of equitable and sustainable urban development,” said Meg Spriggs, managing director of development, Americas, Lendlease. “1 Java St. aligns with Lendlease’s long-term investment strategy in the Americas, focused on properties that improve the vibrancy of the surrounding community while also delivering value to investors.” Designed by Marvel, 1 Java St. features an interconnected building that occupies a full city block with two towers facing the East River connected to a mid-rise podium with frontages on India St., Java St. and West St.
“With 1 Java St., we are setting a new standard for next-generation multifamily living with a high-quality, mixed-income development that is both fully electric and powered by geothermal energy,” said Monique Henley, executive general manager, East Coast Development, Lendlease. “As this project takes shape along the Brooklyn waterfront in Greenpoint, we’re realizing our innovative vision for sustainable urban development in one of the world’s most vibrant and desirable cities.”
A new public waterfront esplanade will ensure 1 Java St. fully integrates with the surrounding neighborhood. This includes direct access to the India St. Pier — which was improved as part of the project and is served by the East River Ferry — as well as installation of a living shoreline that will help protect the site from climate change-related flooding events.
1 Java St. is the sixth project developed and operated as part of the Aware Super and Lendlease joint venture Americas multifamily portfolio, which achieved net zero carbon in 2021. The joint venture’s stabilized assets have also been recognized by GRESB as regional sector leader for superior ESG performance.