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Rooftop urban garden above a brick industrial building, showcasing modern sustainable design with lush greenery against an expansive cityscape background.
Rooftop urban garden above a brick industrial building, showcasing modern sustainable design with lush greenery against an expansive cityscape background.

Brooklyn Steel

This culturally driven project represents a sonic revival in East Williamsburg.

Size 20,000 ssf

Location Brooklyn, NY

Services Architecture, Interior Design, Lighting

Sectors Media & Entertainment

Specialty Studios Spark

Vibrant stage lighting illuminates an empty concert venue with rows of chairs facing a stage, casting dramatic shadows and showcasing a contemporary design melding performance with aesthetics.

Brooklyn Steel is a premier music venue, artfully blending raw industrial heritage with modern aesthetics. HLW and Bowery Presents repurposed a steel fabrication warehouse into a dynamic space that speaks the language of music through design. Featuring a fully re-configurable stage for 2,000 attendees, the venue employs “loud” yellow accents for wayfinding, set against the “quiet” backdrop of dark greys and black. A rigorous zoning study enabled the addition of a large second floor balcony and VIP lounge. The space boasts a double-height bar area, acoustically tuned hall, and generous artist-friendly green rooms. A unique green roof system both contains sound and serves as an apiary. Local artists’ contributions throughout create a vibrant, immersive experience.

Rolling Stone named Brooklyn Steel as one of the top 10 best live music venues in America, placing this venue in the same echelon as renowned spaces like the Hollywood Bowl and Ryman Auditorium.

BQDA Brooklyn People’s Choice Award 2018 — Winner

Pollstar Best New Concert Venue 2018 — Winner

Spacious nightclub interior with vibrant blue lighting accentuating the transparent liquor display. A sleek, black-topped bar runs parallel to an open dance floor, and red pipes overhead add a burst of contrasting color to the industrial-chic ambiance.
Modern nightclub interior showcasing industrial design elements, with exposed metal trusses, strategic blue and white lighting casting dynamic shadows, and an empty dance floor inviting anticipation of nightly revelries.
Aerial view of a parking lot adjacent to a large rooftop green space on an urban building, showcasing sustainable design integrating nature into the cityscape.
Spacious industrial-style venue featuring exposed brick walls, steel beams, and a bar area with eclectic bottle display. A staircase with metal railings ascends to a mezzanine level, underlining the venue’s multi-functional layout and urban aesthetic.

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