Design and Construction Report staff writer
Construction has begun on the transformation of Pier 6 at MADE Bush Terminal in Sunset Park, marking the next phase in revitalizing this section of Brooklyn’s working waterfront. The 5-acre pier will become a new public open space, blending industrial heritage with ecological restoration and community recreation.
Project partners include Arcadis, Matrix New World, SCAPE Landscape Architecture DPC, Sam Schwartz Engineering, Johnson & Asberry, and JK Muir.
The $25 million project will stabilize the pier’s structure, preserve and reuse historic industrial elements, and protect diverse plant and wildlife habitats. Plans call for sustainable design features such as managed erosion and resilient landscaping, along with increased public waterfront access for the first time in decades. Completion is anticipated in 2027.
Pier 6 sits within the 200-acre Sunset Park District and is part of the MADE Bush Terminal Campus, a hub for manufacturers, artisans, designers, and entrepreneurs. Opened in 2024, the campus features over 170,000 square feet of industrial and community space, five acres of open space, and an additional 155,000 square feet under development.
Community engagement played a significant role in shaping Pier 6’s design. Input from public workshops, surveys, and outreach events influenced plans for green space, recreational opportunities, and preservation of the site’s industrial character. Future phases will introduce water-based educational and recreational programming along the pier.
Pier 6 is adjacent to Bush Terminal Piers Park and is one of several major projects advancing in the Sunset Park District. Recent milestones include the selection of a developer for BATWorks, a climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal; the start of construction on one of the nation’s largest offshore wind port facilities at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal; and the opening of MADE Building A.
The Sunset Park District Update Report, released alongside the Pier 6 groundbreaking, highlights these milestones and tracks district-wide growth in employment, program offerings, available space, occupancy rates, and investment in diverse-owned businesses. The report underscores the district’s role as a center for innovation, manufacturing, and community connection along Brooklyn’s waterfront.
