BREAKING: Ratner’s pre-fab tower!

Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner will build the world’s tallest pre-fabricated tower as the first residential building inside his mega-project, dealing a blow to labor unions and architecture enthusiasts, but jumpstarting his stalled development.

Renderings released by SHoP Architects today show a 33-story residential tower at the corner of Dean Street and Flatbush Avenue, just south of the under-construction Barclays Center.

The first residential building at Atlantic Yards will rise at the corner of Dean and Flatbush avenues. It will be the tallest pre-fabricated building in the world (until a larger Atlantic Yards building is constructed a block away in a few years).

SHoP Architects

Construction is expected to begin next year, Ratner said.

Pre-fabricated buildings are controversial because they require far less labor than from-scratch construction. Labor unions were main supporters of Ratner during the approval process for the 16-ower project in 2006, but have signaled that they would oppose a pre-fabricated building.

The tallest pre-fab building in the world won’t be built for a few years.

SHoP Architects

Two more pre-fab buildings — one even taller than the first — will follow, Ratner said.

Check back for more on this breaking story.

Here’s how the first residential building (seen in the background) will stand up to the arena and another proposed tower.

SHoP Architects

Reach reporter Daniel Bush at dbush@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-2531.