The Brooklyn Navy Yard is in a period of immense growth, with 2.5M SF expected to be added over the next three to five years, nearly doubling the amount of built space available to tenants. With this comes the need to improve and increase basic services at the yard, as the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp (BNYDC) expects the number of people working at The Yard to increase from 7,000 to up to 20,000 over the same time period.
One of the many people behind The Brooklyn Navy Yard’s massive growth is head of asset management and EVP Sukanya Paciorek, who oversees leasing and facility operations, including maintenance, energy infrastructure and utilities management efforts. Today, we bring you a little more insight into her life beyond the property.
Photo: Sukanya paddling in the Adirondacks.
Brooklyn Navy Yard specs: A 300-acre industrial park on the Brooklyn waterfront, once home to one of the nation’s most storied naval shipbuilding facilities. It’s now home to over 300 industrial businesses employing nearly 7,000 people and has become a national model for sustainable urban industrial parks.
Most current happenings: The full redevelopment of the 1M SF Building 77 (the largest in the Yard), which will house a mix of manufacturers, creative firms, and for the first time in the Yard’s history, a marquee office tenant; Boston Properties’ and Rudin Development's development of Dock 72, a 675k SF office building with WeWork as the base tenant; a new Wegmans supermarket plus 22k SF of light industrial space being developed by Steiner at Admirals’ Row; a new media and tech campus being developed by Steiner in the Old Naval Hospital Complex; and the delivery of the Yard’s Green Manufacturing Center, where tenants will start moving in this year.
How she got into the business: Previously worked in the energy industry and for the US Department of State before joining Vornado Realty Trust in 2008 to lead the REIT’s energy and sustainability efforts, as well as manage the utilities group for its New York division. Joined BNYDC in October.
Photo: Throwback Thursday! Sukanya speaking at Bisnow’s annual New York Sustainability Summit while at Vornado in 2011.
Education: Bachelor's in International Studies from Ohio State University and a Master's from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, where I studied international energy management and policy.
First gig: My first job out of college was at the US Mission to the United Nations, where I served as a political adviser.
Daily habit: I drink tea every morning.
Mentors: I have been very fortunate to have several great mentors in my career, including my first boss, USUN’s Andrew Hillman. He passed away a few years ago, and I often think of him and the example he set of what a good boss and manager should be.
One person she’d like to meet: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Photo: A rendering of Building 77, which continues to undergo its transformation as the new gateway into the Yard with a public food hall, space for food manufacturing and a collaboration hub. The formal Naval storage facility had few windows, and 3M pounds of concrete were removed to pave the way for 393 new window openings (cut-outs were completed last month). Additionally, 300 existing windows are being replaced. Building 77 will increase overall employment at the Yard by more than 40%.
Favorite spot to decompress in Brooklyn: My home. I am on the border of Clinton Hill/Bed Stuy; I’ve lived here since 2008.
Favorite restaurant: This is a long list living in Brooklyn! In my neighborhood, a few favorites: Speedy Romeo’s (376 Classon Ave), Pilar (397 Greene Ave) and Aita (132 Greene). For Italian, Al Di La (248 Fifth Ave). For Mediterranean, Café Mogador (133 Wythe Ave). And for dessert and almond paste cookies, Monteleone’s (355 Court St).
Favorite song: It changes frequently, but right now, it’s “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton.
Favorite movie: My Cousin Vinny.
Favorite book: I don’t have a favorite, but I like biographies.
Favorite vacation: Costa Rica.
Hobbies: Yoga, camping, fishing and cooking.
