It was George Costanza who claimed to know every “magnificent facility” in all of New York. “Anywhere in the city, I’ll tell ya the best public toilet,” Costanza famously bragged, lying on Jerry’s couch in Seinfeld. “Mention my name and she’ll give you the key.” Seinfeld ended in 1998, twelve years before Brooklyn Bridge Park opened. Were George to have traversed the waterfront park by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA) today, he may have been none too pleased, that was until this week. For years, park goers have relished in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s open spaces, but have had to walk long distances to relieve themselves. A new pavilion by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects (TWBTA) makes things right, however. Under Roebling’s Brooklyn Bridge, new bathrooms and a bakery greet visitors when they enter from Old Fulton Street. Billie Tsien got straight to the point in highlighting the project’s value: “This new pavilion opens its arms to all,” Tsien said. “And [it] offers one of the most important civic amenities: beautiful public bathrooms!” The pavilion’s defining feature is its roof, pierced by a dramatic oculus. (Courtesy Brooklyn Bridge Park) The grand unveiling of the new Pier 1 pavilion and entryway happened this week at a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by TWBTA, local politicians, and community members. The structures are located within a grove of honey locust and gingko trees, reachable by sloping pathways and wide stairways. Two-tone pavers delineate the new entryway. TWBTA designed three stone structures with a shared roof, topped by photovoltaic panels. Brooklyn Bridge Park’s first private family and gender-neutral facilities are located in the pavilion, as well as a Breads Bakery, known for its artisanal pastries and famous babka, like the kind Jerry and Elaine would have written home about it. (Cue: “That was our babka!”) The pavilion affords sweeping views of the East River and Manhattan skyline. (Courtesy Brooklyn Bridge Park) An oculus pierces the thick roof, creating dynamic shadows. The roof’s underside is faced with yellow-green penny tiles, that mimic the nearby trees, and how they change colors with the seasons. Tod Williams called the ensemble “a front porch to Brooklyn and the world,” a “small, but powerful marker of the entrance to the park,” and “a synthesis of landscape and architecture.” For MVVA, the Pier 1 Pavilion is a milestone. Paul Seck, MVVA’s COO, added: “The new pavilion and plaza will redefine how many of the visitors enter the park and encounter the landscape, now grounded by a comfortable civic landmark and a beautiful meeting place.”