Recap of the Event: Powerhouse Arts Center and a Tour of the Facilities
Watch the recording in case you missed it!
The event at Powerhouse Arts was introduced by Richard Hanley, Director of the Brooklyn Waterfront Research Center, who welcomed attendees and outlined the day’s schedule. Nathan Kensinger, an artist and journalist, provided an in-depth overview of the building’s historical significance and transformation. Kensinger’s presentation highlighted the evolution of the Gowanus Canal area and his personal experiences documenting its industrial past.
Kensinger’s exploration revealed that the Powerhouse Arts building, originally known as the Batcave, underwent significant changes from its days as a squatter haven and graffiti-covered space to its current state. He shared photographs and anecdotes from his visits to the building over the years, emphasizing the rapid development and loss of industrial landmarks in the area.
Following Kensinger, three speakers discussed various aspects of the building’s restoration and current use. Victoria Cuddy, an associate at PBDW Architects, detailed the architectural challenges and solutions involved in the project. Cuddy explained how the team managed the environmental cleanup, structural reinforcements, and preservation of significant graffiti pieces, such as the “You Go Girl” wall, during the renovation process.
Brad Parkhill, CEO of the Gemini Arts Initiative, provided historical context about the Gowanus Canal and the Powerhouse building. He described the building’s original function as a power station for the Brooklyn Rapid Transit system and its subsequent decline and transformation. Parkhill highlighted the intricate process of adapting the building for modern use while maintaining its historical integrity.
Kayrn Williams, Vice President of Powerhouse Arts, discussed the current programming and community engagement initiatives. Williams outlined the various workshops, artist residencies, and public events hosted at the facility. She emphasized the organization’s commitment to maintaining an industrial use for the building, aligning with its historical roots, and providing accessible arts fabrication spaces for the community.
The event concluded with a tour of the Powerhouse Arts facility, where attendees could see the renovated spaces and ongoing projects. The tour showcased the integration of modern amenities with preserved historical elements, illustrating the building’s transformation into a vibrant arts hub.
Meet the Speakers
Victoria Cuddy is an Associate at PBDW Architects where she has worked since 2011 and proven her leadership on increasingly complex projects, finding a special expertise within new design and adaptive reuse projects. Most recently, she served as project manager for the adaptive reuse of the Brooklyn Rapid Transit power station for Powerhouse Arts, a new facility for the fabrication of large scale works of art along the Gowanus Canal. Cuddy has also worked for many years with the Park Avenue Armory on the restoration and adaptive reuse of this city and national landmark to create a cultural and performing arts venue. She has completed several commercial and hospitality projects for The Beacon Hotel and Equinox Fitness Clubs (including their flagship club and spa) and is currently working on the design and adaptive reuse of an historic home into a boutique hotel in Connecticut. Cuddy received her Bachelor of Arts from Amherst College and her Master of Architecture from Parsons New School for Design. She has provided pro-bono services for the Hispanic Resource Center in Mamaroneck and has served as Alumni Vice President and Reunion Chair for her alma mater, where she has also volunteered as a panel speaker at their annual Architectural Studies Symposium. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the AIA WHV.
Nathan Kensinger is an artist and journalist based in Brooklyn, New York whose work explores hidden urban landscapes, post-industrial ecologies, forgotten waterways, environmental contamination, and coastal communities endangered by sea level rise and climate change. His work encompasses photography, film, installation, curation and writing. Over the past 20 years, Kensinger has created a series of public arts projects, photo essays, documentary films, and video installations about New York City’s changing waterfront. His photographs have been exhibited by the Museum of the City of New York, Queens Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and Staten Island Museum. His films have been screened internationally at the National Museum of Cinema in Italy, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Danish Film Institute, and Ministry of Culture of Peru. Kensinger previously wrote Camera Obscura, a column of photo essays for Curbed/Vox Media (2012-2020) and is currently an environmental journalist, with bylines at publications including Gothamist/WNYC – New York City’s public radio station. He is a Senior Fellow at the New York City College of Technology’s Brooklyn Waterfront Research Center.
Paul Parkhill has served as the Chief Executive Office of Gemini Arts Initiative, the development subsidiary of Powerhouse, since 2018. He is an urban planner with more than 30 years of experience in community development, with a focus on developing spaces for arts and industry. Parkhill founded Parkhill Planning + Development (PPD), a community development consulting firm, in 2016 and has worked with clients in all five boroughs of NYC and across the country.
Prior to launching PPD, Parkhill served for five years as the founding Executive Director of Spaceworks NYC, a city-initiated nonprofit organization that developed and managed affordable, long-term work spaces for visual and performing artists in NYC. Between 1999 and 2012, he served as the Director of Planning and Development at the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, a nonprofit that has redeveloped more than 700,000 square feet of space for industrial, artisanal, and arts-related businesses. Between 1994 and 1999, Parkhill worked as a housing developer for Common Ground Community, a supportive housing provider. He also co-founded a public art and public history collaborative called Place in History in 1997. He holds a BA from Brown University and Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University.
As the newly appointed Vice President of Powerhouse Arts, Karyn Williams emerges from the role of Program Director at the Design Trust for Public Space. Possessing a deep commitment to the urban landscape, Williams is an accomplished urban planner and landscape designer, driven by a keen awareness of the socio-political forces intricately woven into the fabric of our built and natural environments.
As an urban planner and landscape designer, Williams’s professional passion is evident in her dedication to crafting programs that transcend conventional boundaries, fostering a renewed public understanding of design, planning, and public policy. Her seasoned expertise spans a spectrum of disciplines, encompassing civic engagement, program development, strategic planning, and landscape design.
She earned a Master’s Degrees in Urban Planning from McGill University and Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto, preceded by a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Development Studies from Trent University.
In her new role at Powerhouse Arts, Williams brings not only a visionary approach to supporting artists but also a seasoned understanding of the profound impact that thoughtful urban planning and design can have on the cultural tapestry of a city. As Vice President, she is set to manage innovative and engaging programs for artists and the public.
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