Two New, All Electric, Film Studios in Brooklyn

COOKFOX Architects; rendering by DBOX

Projects Will Offer 600,000 Square Feet of Studio Space, Including 10 New Soundstages, Bolstering NYC’s $81.6 Billion Film and Television Industry

Facilities Will Create 2,400 Total Jobs Associated with Studio Operations and Construction

Both Studios Will be 100 Percent Electric and Will Support Local Workforce Development Programs in Collaboration with Reel Works and Hook Arts Media

New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA), and Bungalow Projects announced the closing of two transactions totaling $552 million to support the construction of two high-end film and television production studios in Brooklyn, one at 176 Dikeman Street in Red Hook, and another at 242 Seigel Street in Bushwick. The two Brooklyn studios will be branded as Echelon Studios and will serve as economic and industry drivers, generating 2,400 jobs between studio operations and construction and creating approximately 600,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities that will accommodate high-budget productions and fill New York City’s undersupply of purpose-built stages critical to industry growth.

Once completed, these new facilities will help New York City’s media and entertainment industry meet the demand for state-of-the-art production facilities to compete on a global scale. According to a Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) study published in 2021, New York City’s film and television industry is directly responsible for more than 185,000 jobs, $18.1 billion in wages, and $81.6 billion in economic output. The film and media industry offers high-wage jobs, averaging $121,000 annually which is roughly 33 percent higher than the average city wage, as well as career pathways for workers without college degrees.

The two studios will feature state-of-the-art industry specifications including column-free soundstages with clear-to-grid heights of 40 feet, significant below-grade parking space, high production support-to-stage space ratios, and top-of-market electrical, HVAC, and floor load capacity. The details of each project include:

Echelon Studios Bushwick

• 135,345 square feet of land
• 355,000 square foot facility
• 6 floors
• 90,800 square feet of below-grade parking (over 230 spaces)
• 6 stages
• Designed for 3 large, high-budget film or television productions at a time

Echelon Studios Red Hook

• 85,000 square feet of land
• 246,000 square foot facility
• 6 floors
• 56,000 square feet of below grade parking (over 185 spaces)
• 4 stages
• Designed for 1-2 large, high-budget film or television productions at a time

Sustainability and workforce development will be embedded into both projects, ensuring their long-term resilience and benefit to the community. Both facilities will seek LEED Gold certification and will be 100 percent electric, with over 25 percent of electric demand expected to be supported by rooftop solar panels; will build planted rooftop terraces, enabling rainwater collection; and will work with a sustainability advisor that specializes in sustainability practices for the film and television industry.

In addition, Bungalow Projects will partner with Reel Works and Hook Arts Media to support workforce development programs in the community. Bungalow Projects will support Reel Works’ MediaMKRS Career Development program, which trains New York youth for careers in film and television production and post-production; this includes a program partnering with New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to recruit out-of-school, out-of-work youth. Similarly, with support from Bungalow Projects, Hook Arts Media will also develop tailored community-based media education programs targeting residents of Red Hook and Bushwick.

Echelon Studios Red Hook will build on ongoing economic and workforce development projects in the Red Hook community. Just last month, NYCEDC announced the passage of a historic vision plan to turn the Brooklyn Marine Terminal (BMT) into a modern, maritime port and create a vibrant, mixed-use community along the Brooklyn waterfront. The proposal, which is backed by $418 million in city, state, and federal investments, will transform the disinvested marine terminal into a 60-acre, all-electric maritime port that can, once again, serve as a key economic driver for the community and city.

In addition to a revitalized port, the plan will also create 6,000 new homes—including over 2,400 permanently-affordable units—as well as at least 28 acres of public space, 275,000 square feet of commercial space, 250,000 square feet of community facility space, and 275,000 square feet of light-industrial and industrial space at discounted rents. A total of 200 affordable units will be reserved on-site for NYCHA Red Hook Houses East and West residents, and 50 affordable units will be reserved for NYCHA Wyckoff and Gowanus Houses residents. Additionally, a $75 million fund to preserve or create affordable units off-site in Community Board 6 will be created, and an additional $200 million will be allocated to NYCHA Red Hook Houses East and West. The plan, which covers a total of 122 acres, will also deliver vital resiliency and infrastructure upgrades for the area while generating an estimated $18 billion in economic impact, 37,000 temporary construction jobs, and 2,000 permanent jobs.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About NYCIDA
New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA) supports business growth, relocation, and expansion across the five boroughs by lowering the cost of capital investment. NYCIDA’s tax incentive programs bolster the local economy, create jobs for New Yorkers, and uphold the city’s position as a global business hub.

About Bungalow Projects
Based in New York City and founded in May 2023, Bungalow Projects is a full-service real estate investment and development firm pioneering the future of episodic, film, and digital content creation by constructing sustainable and cutting-edge production hubs to nurture the world’s creative visionaries. For more information, visit bungalowre.com.