World’s tallest modular building opens in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is making some serious strides in the residential real estate realm.

The only one of its kind in the world, 461 Dean – a 32-story modular high-rise building – opened on Tuesday, November 15 within Pacific Park and is now accepting lease applications.

Forest City Ratner Companies, the corporation behind the massive project, revealed that the residential high-rise, also dubbed the tallest modular tower in the world, includes 363 state-of-the-art rental apartments, a 24-hour doorman, modern fitness center, yoga and dance studio, skylounge and rooftop terrace with sweeping city views, a game room with billiards and ping pong, a children’s playroom and a washer/dryer in every unit.

“461 Dean is a testament to innovation and creativity, built in Brooklyn and like nothing else on the market,” said MaryAnne Gilmartin, president and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies. “We are excited that our vision for this cutting-edge property has come to life, and that residents will be able to experience modern living in Brooklyn’s most dynamic new neighborhood.”

The state-of-the-art building will be housed within the Greenland Forest City Partners’ Pacific Park Brooklyn complex, a $4.9 billion redevelopment of 22 acres in downtown Brooklyn that will include approximately 6 million square feet of residential space—6,430 units of which will be affordable and market-rate housing—, a state of the art sports and entertainment arena, the Barclays Center, 247,000 square feet of retail use, approximately 336,000 square feet of office space and eight acres of publicly accessible open space.

Designed by SHoP Architects – the same firm behind the Barclays Center’s design – 461 Dean is the first residential building to open at Pacific Park Brooklyn, according to Forest City Ratner, and is a mix of 149 studios, 166 one-bedroom apartments and 48 two-bedroom apartments, half of which are set aside for low and middle-income New Yorkers.

“These residences feature truly unique design and architectural elements influenced by the modular construction,” said Matthew Villetto, vice president of marketing of Douglas Elliman Development Marketing. “461 Dean’s location and connectivity to some of the most desirable tree-lined Brooklyn neighborhoods, fantastic options for public transportation, and a vibrant culture and nightlife, really make this building a standout in the marketplace.”

“Offsite construction reduces environmental impact and offers a creative way forward for the construction industry to address the intersecting needs of cities today,” added SHoP principal Chris Sharples. “This is a pioneering project, and the methods we developed here can help meet the enormous demand for new housing in New York and other rapidly growing cities.”