Renderings Revealed for The Bronx Detention Center at 745 East 141st Street in Mott Haven

 

New renderings have been revealed for The Bronx Detention Center at 745 East 141st Street in Mott Haven. Designed by CetraRuddy in collaboration with Lumen Architecture, Urbahn Architects, Transformative Reform Group (TRG), and the New York City Design Department of Construction, the $2.9 billion project is part of the plan to replace Rikers Island with four borough-based detention centers. The Bronx structure will yield 1,040 beds, 20 underground staff parking spaces, and 40,000 square feet of commercial space. The project site is bounded by East 142nd Street to the north, East 141st Street to the south, the confluence of Bruckner and Southern Boulevard to the east, and Concord Avenue to the west.

The main preliminary rendering above and the two below street-level perspectives look north at the new building along Bruckner Boulevard, previewing the expansive glass and rounded corners of the podium levels.

Looking north at 745 East 141st Street.

The following aerial view shows the irregular massing of the main tower of the detention center, as well as the green roofs atop the podium levels and photovoltaic array on the roof parapet. Landscaping and winding paths will surround the base of the building.

Aerial view of 745 East 141st Street.

Another view looks east from the corner of Jackson Avenue and East 141st Street.

Looking east at 745 East 141st Street.

The public entrance to the facility will be situated at the corner of East 142nd Street and Southern Boulevard.

The public lobby entrance to 745 East 141st Street.

Greenery will wrap around the northern, southern, and eastern sides of the ground level, which will also include new seating, bike racks, improved lighting, and a dedicated drop-off and pick-up zone. The first image depicts the walkway along East 141st Street, the second along East 142nd Street, and the third showing the streetscape along Bruckner Boulevard.

Landscaping along East 141st Street.

Landscaping along Bruckner Boulevard.

The following plan view highlights the outline of the landscaping. The western side of the jail facility will be home to large vehicle ramps for the complex, while the remaining sliver of land along Concord Avenue will be used for future residential housing. QRP is serving as the landscape architect.

A plan view of the landscaping layout for 745 East 141st Street.

Interior preliminary renderings below show the public lobby space, which will have seating, lockers, restrooms, charging stations, video displays, vending machines, and a children’s play area.

The public lobby for 745 East 141st Street.

The next two images preview the visitor waiting area and the visiting area, which will both have floor-to-ceiling windows for natural illumination.

The visitor waiting area for 745 East 141st Street.

The day room, seen below, will feature tables and seating, high ceiling heights, and clear sight lines of the jail cells directly facing the room.

An enclosed recreational space is shown below that gives a better indication of the appearance of the grated glass curtain wall.

The following image previews a typical room with a dormitory-style bed.

The nearest subway from the site is the 6 train at the East 143rd Street-St. Mary’s Street station to the northeast.

Excavation is currently underway at 745 East 141st Street, which was formerly occupied by a surface-level impound lot for the New York Police Department.

The Bronx Detention Center is slated for completion in April 2031. The preliminary renderings were revealed at a community-design workshop held on March 5, 2025.