Industrial Woodworking / Makerspace Workshop in 1920s Factory Building

Welcome to Brooklyn Optics, our 1920s Williamsburg historic industrial four-story building! Blending history with production, our building contains its original 1940 stainless steel freight elevator. We hold multiple production and film spaces all within one complex. We are your space for abandoned, haunted or vacant shoot projects. Likewise, because we can control the interior environment, coupled with its solid brick and concrete ceilings, many of the spaces lend themselves to recordings and audio interviews. Our authentic industrial distressed location has been featured in BBC, FOX News, and Cosmopolitan productions. This is a fully operational woodworking and makerspace, equipped for a wide range of fabrication projects. Beyond woodworking, the shop offers capabilities for welding, plasma cutting, industrial sewing, and multi-material fabrication, making it ideal for set building. Designed as a commercial shop, it's currently a space where I volunteer to teach young people valuable trades and hands-on skills. The shop is always bustling with ongoing projects. The space features two large, west-facing glass block windows (6x6 feet, 4 inches thick) that allow natural light to filter in while maintaining a quiet atmosphere, thanks to the bunker-like walls, which are over a foot thick. With its 12-foot ceilings, the shop provides an excellent setting for audio recordings, particularly for documentary interviews. The shop itself is about 1,250 square feet, with an additional 800 square feet dedicated to film or photo staging. It’s equipped with 110V, 220V, and three-phase power, and is located on the ground floor with ample parking in the two-truck driveway. If you're in need of an active industrial shop backdrop or set, this space is a valuable resource. We frequently restore vintage artifacts and industrial items for other projects and also create contemporary pieces using modern industrial materials. For those seeking an old-world workshop atmosphere, we have a collection of vintage tools and workbenches, as well as materials like copper, stainless steel, vintage canvas, and more, which can be staged for period-specific sets. Whether you're looking for a working industrial environment or a versatile fabrication shop, this space can meet your needs. Refer to the last photo for house rules, details on in-house props, and equipment rentals. ******** Rate includes exclusive access to the maker space. Maker Space: 1250 (+800) sq feet Ceiling: 12’ – Single bathroom with lockable dressing room upstairs – Vanity station with 2 Bi LED light stands (controlled by makeup / hairstylist artist) – Tables: vintage work tables and sawhorses – 3x large garment racks + hangers – 20+ vintage industrial chairs Access: Conveniently located near the 4, L, M, J, and G train lines. Our loading dock, ramps, and elevator are perfect for loading equipment and material. Nothing needs to be lifted, roll your equipment out of the vehicle straight into the freight elevator. – Double truck in-house loading dock – Loading ramps – Freight Elevator: 4’6”W x 4’6”D x 7’H; Door Width, 3’7” – Street Parking nearby – High speed internet Power: – 110V, 220V, and three-phase power – Four extension cords Windows: The windows and doors can be controlled: either blacked out or filtered for light. Lighting Equipment: Throughout the space we have vintage industrial drop lights that have RGB/ bi lights which can also be remote controlled. Additional in-house rental lighting and grip gear may be available. Additional in-house rental lighting and grip gear may be available as an add-on. Please make pre-arrangements with us so we can reserve your desired equipment: 1x Overhead Parabolic Softbox Bi-Light 2x Pixel K80 RGB w/ bi-color led lights 2,600k-10,000k set w. barn doors on rolling tripods with 110 cord or cord-free setup (CC Security required) 2x LS photo studio LED 6500k lights (75w ea.) with softbox atripods. 4x CFL 45W Daylight Bulbs 2x White Translucent Umbrellas: 33" 2x Softboxes w/ Lamp Sockets: 24 x 24" w. 4x Light Stands: 7' 4x Low-Profile LED Bi-lights, 3600k - 5600K w/ NP batteries (good for detail or hidden lighting) 1x Backdrop Support Stand, 8.5'- 10.3', light duty w/ chroma green, black and white cloth 1x Cordless battery water sprayer, to create a rain or rain misting effect. Other Important Items: – First Aid Kit (Institutional Grade) – Required fire extinguishers on all floors. Explore additional shoot locations in our building, including a library, rooftop garden, optical store, loft, and loading dock. Contact us for more information on prop rentals and multiple production spaces.