Rudin Development (Rudin) and Boston Properties (BXP) recently announced the long-awaited expansion of their tenant roster at Dock 72 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard: Online cooking and home brand Food52 has signed a 12-year lease for the entire 13th floor of the building. The company plans to move in during the second half of 2022. Food52 is the second occupant to be signed to the property since WeWork signed on as anchor and co-developer.
Dock 72 is perhaps the most distinctive element in the Brooklyn Navy Yards development. Designed by S9 Architects, Perkins Eastman and Fogarty Finger Architects, the building exterior is a nod to the legacy of labor once forged at Brooklyn’s historic Navy Yard.
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However, the space is also modern and looks to provide an inspiring environment for representatives of emerging industries that are defining New York’s future — such as the tech, manufacturing and creative sectors that have rekindled industry in Brooklyn for the 21st century. Dock 72 incorporates 688,000 square feet, 675,000 of which is rentable, class A New York City office space. Another 13,000 square feet is available for retail.
Rudin and BXP developed the property in collaboration with coworking space provider WeWork, which occupies about one-third of the office space in the building, including two floors reserved for its own staff. Last September, the company made the Brooklyn location available to employees who preferred to avoid commuting to their Manhattan office spaces.
Bill Rudin, CEO of Rudin, reportedly saw this as beneficial to leasing efforts at the property.
“This building is about utilizing the lobbies, coffee shops, outdoor space, seating,” Rudin said. “WeWork’s presence brings life and animation to the building, which, in our view, would be very positive as we continue marketing and showing prospective tenants Dock 72.”
In fact, it might have even helped to convince the latest tenant to leave its current Chelsea office space at 122 West 26th St. and relocate to Brooklyn. According to the announcement, Food52 will occupy about 42,000 square feet at Dock 72, where it will build studios and test kitchens to expand its content production.
“We are beyond thrilled to call Dock 72 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard the future home of Food52,” said Amanda Hesser, Food52 founder and CEO. “Through the pandemic, we redefined our vision for the future of the workplace and how we’ll intertwine our worlds of content and commerce creation, just as we do on our site. We’re already beginning to build out studios, communal spaces, and test kitchens in the light-filled space for our team and collaborators to help even more people enjoy life’s most important pleasures — food, home and connection to others.”
David Ehrenberg, president and CEO of Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp., added: “Being at the forefront of the food industry and digital content, Food52’s new space at the Navy Yard will offer its employees access to the state-of-the-art amenities at Dock 72, while allowing the media site to expand operations. Food52 is one of the latest additions to the Yard’s robust industrial ecosystem that enables food and beverage manufacturing companies to thrive by fostering collaboration and innovation.”
