City Completes $9.7 Million Upgrade of 25 Public Restrooms at Brooklyn Central Courts Building

Restrooms Now ADA-Compliant and Use 62 Percent Less Water

DDC: Denisse Moreno, 718-391-1854, morenode@ddc.nyc.gov
DCAS:  communications@dcas.nyc.gov

(Brooklyn, NY – January 2, 2025) Commissioner Thomas Foley of the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), Commissioner Luis A. Molina of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and Commissioner Christina Curry of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) announced today that a $9.7 million project that modernized and upgraded all 25 public restrooms in the Brooklyn Central Courts Building has been completed, making all the restrooms ADA-compliant with a large savings in water and energy usage. DDC managed the project for DCAS.

“This project, which was designed in-house at DDC, makes this public building that is supposed to serve all people more accessible while saving both water and water heating costs,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “The new facilities use 62 percent less water and adhere to ADA rules for items such as stall size and railing height, and also include new automatic fixtures that activate easily and turn off automatically. I’d like to thank the DDC team that designed and managed this project, and the members of our ADA Compliance Unit, who were on-site regularly to make sure work was being done correctly.”

“This project strikes to the heart of what we can accomplish through a unified vision and interagency collaboration,” said DCAS Commissioner Molina. “Thanks to our partners at DDC, we have brought the facilities at the nearly 100-year-old Brooklyn Courthouse into the 21st century. With new ADA compliance, this project underscores the administration’s straightforward objective – to make spaces available and easily accessible for all New Yorkers.”

"MOPD commends the Department of Design and Construction for its dedication to accessibility in the Brooklyn Central Courts Building. Renovating its spaces to meet ADA standards is a significant step toward ensuring equal access for all New Yorkers," said NYC MOPD Commissioner Curry. "By modernizing this nearly century-old building, DDC is demonstrating its commitment to creating an inclusive environment for staff and visitors. This project exemplifies how our city can embrace accessibility in its historic infrastructure to serve the community better."

The Brooklyn Central Courts Building is located between Schermerhorn, Smith and State Streets in Brooklyn and currently houses the Criminal and Supreme Courts, and various city offices. The 10-story building, built in 1929, has three public bathrooms on each floor (men, women and unisex), and the first floor also has one women’s bathroom.

All 25 bathrooms were renovated to accommodate with ADA stalls, and 12 drinking water fountains were also upgraded. The project also included new plumbing, as well as new electrical work for the fans and vents in the restrooms. New low flow automatic fixtures were also added. Work began in fall 2022 and ended fall 2024.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.

About the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) makes city government work for all New Yorkers. Our commitment to equity, effectiveness, and sustainability guides our work providing City agencies with the resources and support needed to succeed, including:

• Recruiting, hiring, and training City employees. 
• Managing 55 public buildings. 
• Acquiring, selling, and leasing City property. 
• Purchasing over $1 billion in goods and services for City agencies. 
• Overseeing the greenest municipal vehicle fleet in the country. 
• Leading the City’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions from government operations. 

Learn more about DCAS by visiting nyc.gov/dcas and by following us on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and listening to the Inside Citywide podcast.

About the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities
The Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) has been the liaison between the New York City government and the disability community. In partnership with city offices and agencies, MOPD ensures that city initiatives, programs, and policies address the needs and interests of people with disabilities. The office regularly engages in advocacy and policymaking at the local, state, national, and international levels to make sure accessibility and full inclusion are key priorities for all public and private stakeholders alike.

For more information about MOPD and its initiatives, visit nyc.gov/mopd or follow us on social media:

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