Make It in Brooklyn: think!
Field: Architecture + design
Est: 2013
HQ: 1 MetroTech Center
Founded in 2013 by seasoned architects with backgrounds in sustainability and the arts, think! practices “architecture as a social tool” for a range of clients such as universities, performing arts institutions, healthcare providers, and housing developers. Four years ago, the team relocated from Tribeca to Downtown Brooklyn’s MetroTech, where they’ve expanded their team to more than 20 employees and fully embraced the benefits of being a Brooklyn-based firm.
Brooklyn’s Competitive Advantage
Since moving to Downtown Brooklyn, partners and staff enjoy short commutes via the nearby 2/3, A/C, and F trains. Any concerns about clients not crossing the river from Manhattan are a thing of the past. The borough’s unique identity, rich history, and reputation as a creative hub have become business assets. As principal Jack Esterson notes, “being Brooklyn-based helps us win projects – we do everything here, and that’s now part of our marketing.”
Designing for New Yorkers
A majority of the firm’s projects are located in NYC, and a core tenet of their work is the integration of quality building design with broader neighborhood development goals. Recently, think! was selected by the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development as part of a team working on an all-affordable co-living project in East Harlem and a modular housing pilot in East New York.
Space to Experiment
think! transformed their space from a former server room to a light-filled workspace with a long, shared central desk that encourages collaboration and accessibility. The unique layout also supports professional development for emerging architects, who benefit from the ability to observe partners in action and see firsthand how the business works. Collaboration continues after hours, when the team frequently gathers in-house to work on personal projects and hold informal pinups.
Read more about think! here, and find more Make It in Brooklyn profiles here.
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