NEW YORK CITY—In a move being called one of the largest-ever relocations from Manhattan to the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, the Bjarke Ingels Group has signed a lease to occupy 50,000 square feet at 45 Main St.

The 200-plus person NYC office will move from Lower Manhattan and take over the space at the Two Management Co.-owned property that previously was occupied by West Elm. The Scandanavian architecture firm is best known here for its creation of 2 World Trade Center. It also is working on a large office and retail tower at Hudson Yards.

Two Trees managed this transaction in house. BIG was represented by Mary Ann Tighe, Tim Dempsey, Ken Rapp, Chris Mansfield and Peter Gamber of CBRE. Built in 1912, the 12 story 45 Main St. boasts 475,000 rentable square feet and is situated within walking distance of five New York City subway lines.

“There is a movement among the world's top media, creative and design leaders and it's centered right here in DUMBO,” declares Two Trees principal Jed Walentas. “DUMBO's building stock is characterized by open spaces that offer ideal physical environments for the level of collaboration needed to push boundaries. We are thrilled to welcome BIG.”

He adds, “Our focus has been to position our buildings for creative firms–large and small–by modernizing infrastructure and providing first-rate amenities in a unique community defined by its independent local businesses.”

Over the past year, Two Trees has made a significant investment in enhanced building amenities at its DUMBO office properties including new green roof decks created by High Line designer James Corner Field Operations. In fact, it was the roof deck that made 45 Main St. an appealing location for BIG in its search for DUMBO office space.

BIG will be joining some other creative brands at the property, including HUGE, Big Spaceship, Hudson Union, The Joey Company and Mammoth Advertising. Nearby, Two Trees' 55 Washington St. has a tenant roster that includes DDB Spike and Apex Exposure.

“With the majority of my colleagues, myself included, living in Brooklyn and the continuous enhancement of the neighborhood through the expansion of Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Two Trees community, DUMBO is an obvious choice for BIG in NYC,” says Bjarke Ingels.

“The visual excitement and physical proximity to downtown Manhattan combined with DUMBO's artistic spirit and access to public space feels like our native Copenhagen,” he continues, “making it as Scandimerican as any place I can think of.”

Instant Insights /

Architecture Firm Shifts from Manhattan to Brooklyn

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