Kirkman Lofts at 37 Bridge Street in DUMBO: Worth Getting on a Soapbox About

In 1915, when this classic factory building was commissioned by the Kirkman & Son Soap Company in a gritty industrial section of Brooklyn, it’s doubtful anyone could have envisioned its reincarnation as a high-end luxury condominium with its locale now fashionably referred to as DUMBO.

Quite frankly, with its simple brick façade, one still might be hard-pressed to equate the 7-story brick building at 37 Bridge Street with any kind of residential grandeur — but you know what they say about judging a book by its cover.

Alexander Kirkman’s decision to move his company to its new home in Brooklyn grew the business tenfold, putting Kirkman & Sons on the map as one of the country’s leading soap producers. Architect Robert M. Scarano Jr.’s 2011 conversion, which was undertaken by 37 Bridge Street LLC, has done Kirkman’s legacy proud.

Mr. Scarano took full advantage of the building’s unique resources, incorporating the existing “silos” (large cylinders that run from the basement to the fifth floor) as a centerpiece of its interior design, beautifully showcasing them in the hallways and the apartments, and even cutting doorways into the curved sections. Custom finishes throughout compliment the original factory elements, providing a perfect blend of the building’s distinctive history with its modern day use.

While some of the architectural details of Kirkman Lofts may harken back to the early 20th century, living here certainly does not. The three interior townhomes and 45 apartments are all beautifully designed, with locally-sourced millwork from Avalon Custom Woodworking; stainless steel Bertazzoni ranges; porcelain Toto bathtubs and dual-flush toilets; solid hardwood oak flooring; oversized, industrial-inspired windows (with views ranging from the Manhattan Bridge to The Empire State Building); and wonderfully high ceilings.

This currently available 2BR/2BA, 1,335-square-foot triplex, offered at $1.729 million, also features an open living/dining area looking out to a private patio, poured concrete kitchen countertops and concrete bathroom sinks, a generous master suite, and all of the amenities one would expect of a building of this measure: video doorman service, package and delivery storage, bike and private storage, a fitness room, and even two common terraces with perfect views of the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges.

If you need a little more room there’s also a 2,600-square-foot, 3BR/2.5BA loft waiting just for you at $3.5 million.

[Listing: 37 Bridge Street via Halstead]

Images courtesy of Halstead except where noted.