This project reimagines the Red Hook Grain Terminal as a vertical algae farming and research facility that supports a localized bioeconomy.
Capitalizing on the structure’s unobstructed solar exposure and coastal setting, the design proposes cylindrical photobioreactors mounted on sun-facing silo walls to cultivate algae—an organism with vast commercial potential in biofuels, food, cosmetics, bioplastics, and textiles. The adaptive reuse strategy integrates algae farming with laboratory research, small-scale manufacturing, and public-facing programs like exhibitions and educational spaces.
