The Rocking the Boat facility serves as a home for boatbuilding and environmental science programs for local students. The site, an industrial structure set back from the street, was originally built for warehousing, not welcoming, and required a transformation that brought light and purpose to the space.

WXY preserved the building’s footprint and steel frame while opening it up to light and circulation. A full-height glass façade replaced portions of the original exterior, revealing the interior activity and turning the facility into a beacon and neighborhood landmark. Inside, the layout organizes marine labs, student lounges, and boatbuilding zones around a central open workspace, with sawtooth skylights drawing in daylight.

New infrastructure includes a rainwater harvesting system and upgraded mechanicals integrated within the existing frame. By retaining core structural elements, the adaptive reuse approach reduced material waste and allowed the team to focus on performance, clarity, and long-term flexibility.

The facilities serves more than 2,000 students and community members each year, offering free programs in rowing, sailing, water testing, and woodworking. It creates a direct link between education and the environment, turning the waterfront into a space for learning and leadership. Ninety-six percent of participants graduate from high school, far above the neighborhood average. Of those, ninety percent continue on to college or technical training. What began as adaptive reuse has become a center of connection between people and New York’s waterways.