In the name of renovation and reusing old spaces, New York-based Bench Architecture revamped a multistorey warehouse in Brooklyn into artist studios and a members’ club, which is topped with a rooftop pool.
The original building is a former steel mill, but the completed renovation required a few additions to the roof, including the members’ club and the covered rooftop pool.
“This building is not only the home of Bench Architecture — it’s also David Bench’s first true project,” the studio says in an official statement. “When it was purchased, it was a former stainless steel kitchenware factory, sealed off from light and cut off from the city around it. One of the first things we did was unseal the windows to let light in and open up the views.”
David Bench, Bench Architecture’s founder, divided the building’s “design into ‘two distinct aesthetics’ to match the building’s ‘two distinct lives’ as a hub for artists’ production and an upscale members’ club,” he shared in a statement to Dezeen. “They’re both respectful of the qualities of the existing structure, but in different ways: the studios are an extension or update of the industrial character, while SAA is a juxtaposition,” he added.
Each floor serves a different purpose, the studio explains, creating a more dynamic space and experience for each patron. While the ground floor is an event space, the second floor houses recording studios, and the third and fourth floors are filled with art studios, including the Bench Architecture offices.
“The fifth floor was transformed into a members’ club. We cut through the existing floors to build a dramatic stairwell and introduce balconies, expanding past the original roofline. This level includes a rooftop pool and spa, with a stone hammam, cold plunge, steam room, and sauna. The pool has a wide view of the city, retractable windows, and wraparound seating — open to the air in summer and enclosed in winter. It’s already hosted poolside movies, DJ sets, and gatherings, drawing people from all over.”
Of course, the original location leaves something to be desired. This, Bench admits, added another challenge for the project. “In our conventionally less-than-desirable location, the qualities of the building and the experience have to be compelling enough to make it a destination.
“This building does a lot — it’s a workspace, event venue, wellness space, and a real showcase of what we do as a design studio. We’re excited to take what we’ve learned here and bring rooftop pools and creative programming to more buildings across the city.”
This article first appeared in the August 2025 issue of AQUA Magazine — the top resource for retailers, builders and service pros in the pool and spa industry. Subscriptions to the print magazine are free to all industry professionals. Click here to subscribe.
