A museum exhibit combines displays about offshore wind careers with an interactive station showcasing personal protective equipment, safety harnesses, helmets, and tools used by wind industry workers. Nearby interpretive panels describe workforce opportunities and turbine technology.
Photo by Windscape Brooklyn

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Windscape Brooklyn

WindScape Brooklyn | Brooklyn, NY | 2026 | Lead: Ana Fisyak, Equinor; Curator: Jeanne Haffner; Designer: Tom Prendergast, Jack Morton; Project Manager: Sheila Bermel, Jack Morton, Universal Design Consultant, Danise Levine

In March 2022, when NYCEDC, Equinor, and SSBMT finalized a landmark agreement to transform the 73-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT) into one of the nation’s largest offshore wind port facilities, Equinor also began a multi-year planning, design, and collaboration process to bring to life New York’s first offshore wind learning center. Located across the street from the port in an adaptive reused former industrial complex, WindScape Brooklyn today is a hub for education and with exhibits that cover: what is wind and how is it harnessed, the history of offshore wind, the technology behind wind turbines and how they are installed and maintained, the marine science involved in offshore wind development, careers in the industry, and much more. The WindScape Brooklyn project team aimed to model the inclusivity of the new industry through its content, design, and exhibits. The Learning Center received its innovative solutions for universal design certification (isUD™) in July, 2026.

Project Goals

The impetus for WindScape Brooklyn emerged from a community commitment to the City of New York and the Sunset Park neighborhood to develop a vibrant offshore wind learning center to support education and workforce development in the emerging industry and serve as a community space. The project team worked with a design committee composed of local community organizations, city and state agencies, subject matter experts, and educators, to design a colorful and interactive space that was accessible and engaging for all ages. The center’s location provided a unique perspective to learn directly from the redevelopment of the port and the long-term operations for the offshore wind project. Soft launched in December 2024 and opened in September 2025, the Center has to date hosted thousands of visitors through its popular school field trips, public open hours, workforce development events, youth development program, and community space use.

IDEA Center’s Contribution:

As consultants, Danise Levine, a registered architect and Universal Design expert from the IDEA Center, worked collaboratively with Jack Morton and project partners to ensure that universal design is given appropriate attention throughout the design of the building and exhibits. The ultimate goal was to provide the most inclusive and healthy experience, while ensuring that the facility’s space and
program requirements were met.

Features include:

  • Interactive and tactile exhibits: The center’s exhibits bring to life the science and technology behind offshore wind and supports hands on learning through tactile features and interactive exhibits for kids and adults. Additionally, exhibits were designed to support in-school learning and Next Generation Science Standards.
  • Multilingual interpretation: The center’s exhibits are presented in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish to accommodate the languages most often spoken among Sunset Park community members.
  • Stepless access: Located on the 6th floor of an adaptive reuse building, the Center is accessible from the street by ramp and elevator.
  • Flexibility and comfort: Furniture and space flexibility, generous circulation widths, and accessible amenities accommodate a broad range of body types and mobility devices.
  • Inclusive of special needs: Exhibits have been designed to ensure readability, physical accessibility, and alternatives for learners who are susceptible to sensory overload.
A bright yellow exhibit wall titled "Tools of the Trade" features photographs of offshore wind industry workers, personal quotes, and interpretive panels highlighting careers and experiences in the renewable energy workforce. Bold white diagonal accents frame the display.
This exhibit provides clear visual content, simple fonts, high color contrast and is readable for everyone, including people with low vision and learning differences.

Community Impact

Demonstrating how Universal Design can create engaging, accessible learning experiences that connect diverse audiences with offshore wind, renewable energy, and workforce opportunities.
A spacious museum gallery features a detailed model of an offshore wind turbine mounted above a circular interactive display. Interpretive panels, digital exhibits, and a tall illuminated installation explain offshore wind technology and marine environments.
Exhibits introduce the wonder of offshore wind in an interactive and immersive experience for visitors of all ages and abilities.
The entrance to the WindScape exhibit features a modern reception desk with a digital display, light wood finishes, and introductory signage. Open exhibit galleries are visible beyond the welcome area, creating an inviting first impression.
With lots of visual stimulation within the facility, the front lobby provides an easy transition into the Learning Center for visitors with sensory issues.
WindScape Interactive Model
This interactive model of a wind turbine provides access to visitors of all sizes and abilities.
An interactive exhibit wall displays dozens of colorful circular components surrounding a large touchscreen. A vertical "Brooklyn" graphic identifies the exhibit area, encouraging visitors to explore offshore wind technologies through hands-on interaction.
The lighting within the Learning Center provides a well-balanced and functional space by using a combination of ambient lighting, task lighting and accent lighting to create a dynamic and visually engaging environment that is comfortable for all visitors, including older adults and people with visual impairments.

About the isUD™ Universal Design Certificate

The isUD™ Certification, developed by the IDEA Center at the University at Buffalo, evaluates projects using a structured assessment aligned with Universal Design performance goals. Certified projects demonstrate measurable success in areas such as usability, comfort, safety, awareness, and social integration.

Let us help you design for everyone.

Founded in 1984, the IDEA Center is a world-renowned leader in inclusive design, offering expert solutions that prioritize accessibility, safety, and well-being. Backed by extensive research and hands-on design experience, our multi-disciplinary team collaborates with owners, developers, architects, exhibit designers, and project teams to create environments that are not only inclusive but also innovative.

If you would like to learn more about how you can incorporate universal design into your projects, please reach out to us!

Telephone: +1.716.829.5903
E-mail: ap-idea@buffalo.edu