Dumbo is weird. One minute you're staring at the most photographed bridge view in the world on Washington Street, and the next, you’re ducking into a massive, imposing concrete structure that feels like it should be housing a printing press from the 1920s. That’s 117 Adams St Brooklyn NY for you. It’s a beast of a building. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time wandering the cobblestones near the York Street station, you’ve definitely walked past it, probably without realizing it’s one of the nerve centers for the neighborhood’s tech and creative boom.
It isn't just another warehouse.
This place is part of the DUMBO Heights campus. You might hear people call it that, or maybe just "the old Jehovah’s Witnesses buildings." For decades, this specific stretch of real estate was the global headquarters for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. They ran a tight ship. When Kushner Companies and their partners bought the complex for a staggering $375 million back in 2013, the vibe shifted overnight. We went from religious pamphlets to high-speed fiber optics and $15 salads. It’s a pivot that tells the whole story of Brooklyn's gentrification in a single block.
The Reality of Working at 117 Adams St Brooklyn NY
If you’re looking at this address, you’re likely either a freelancer scouting a WeWork desk or a founder trying to figure out if your team will actually commute here. Let’s be real: the F train at York Street is a nightmare. It’s deep, it’s hot, and the stairs feel endless. But once you’re out, the walk to 117 Adams is short.
The building itself is massive. We’re talking over 250,000 square feet of space. The windows are huge, which is the main selling point. Light pours in. You’ve got views of the Manhattan Bridge that feel so close you could almost touch the steel beams. Inside, the aesthetic is exactly what you’d expect from a Dumbo renovation—exposed ceilings, polished concrete, and a lot of glass.
Who is actually inside?
It's a mix. You’ve got big names. WeWork has been the anchor tenant here for a long time, occupying multiple floors. It’s one of their more "industrial" feeling locations. Then there are firms like Etsy and even some divisions of big-tech players that have rotated through the campus.
But it’s not all just guys in hoodies staring at monitors. The ground floor has tried hard to become a retail destination. You’ve got Bluestone Lane for your caffeine fix and various high-end fitness studios. It creates this weird ecosystem where you never really have to leave the block. Some people love that. Others find it a bit sterile compared to the "old" Brooklyn.
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Why the Architecture Matters (More Than You Think)
You can't talk about 117 Adams St Brooklyn NY without mentioning the skybridge. It’s one of those iconic features that makes this building part of a larger machine. It connects to 55 Prospect Street. Back in the day, these bridges were functional—moving materials and people between factory floors without hitting the street. Today, they’re just cool architectural flexes that make the campus feel like a self-contained city.
The building was originally finished around 1910. It’s a daylight factory design. Before fluorescent lights were a thing, architects built these wide footprints with massive windows so workers could actually see what they were doing. Now, that same design is the "luxury" standard for creative offices. It’s ironic, kinda. What was once a necessity for industrial labor is now a premium feature for digital design.
Navigating the Space
The lobby is modern. It’s got that high-security, sleek-desk vibe. If you’re visiting a tenant, you’re going to need an invite or a badge. It’s not the kind of place where you just wander the halls. However, the retail stuff on the perimeter is open to everyone.
- The Roof: If you can get access, do it. The views are some of the best in the borough.
- The Annex: There’s a lot of interconnectivity between the buildings in this cluster.
- The Tech: The building underwent a massive infrastructure overhaul to support high-bandwidth users. It’s "WiredScore" certified, which basically means the internet won't die during your Zoom call.
The Neighborhood Context: Dumbo’s Evolution
Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) used to be a place where artists lived in illegal lofts and avoided the cops. That’s gone. Now, it’s the most expensive neighborhood in Brooklyn. 117 Adams St Brooklyn NY sits right at the gateway.
You’re steps away from Brooklyn Bridge Park. You can walk down to the water in five minutes. That’s the real "amenity" of this address. If you’re having a bad day at the office, you walk to the Jane’s Carousel area, look at the skyline, and suddenly your 4:00 PM meeting doesn't seem so bad. Or you go to Grimaldi’s or Juliana’s for pizza, though most locals will tell you to skip the line and go somewhere else unless you’re trying to impress a tourist.
Is it worth the hype?
Honestly, it depends on what you value. If you want "authentic" gritty Brooklyn, this isn't it. This is the new Brooklyn. It’s clean, it’s expensive, and it’s very corporate-creative. But as a place to get work done? It’s hard to beat the light and the proximity to Manhattan. You can walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and be in the Financial District in 20 minutes. That’s a powerful draw for businesses.
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Key Facts and Figures (No Fluff)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Year Built | Circa 1910 |
| Total Square Footage | ~250,000+ |
| Ownership | Kushner Companies, RFR Realty, LIVWRK |
| Subway Access | A/C (High St), F (York St) |
The building has faced some hurdles. Like any major commercial project in NYC, it’s seen tenant turnover. WeWork’s various restructurings have always loomed over these big Brooklyn footprints. Yet, the demand for Dumbo office space remains weirdly resilient. People want to be here. They want the cobblestones. They want the "Dumbo Heights" brand on their business card.
Logistics: Getting to 117 Adams St Brooklyn NY
Let's talk about the commute because that's what everyone complains about.
If you're driving, don't. Parking in Dumbo is a special kind of hell. There are garages, but they’ll charge you a kidney for a daily rate. The BQE is right there, which sounds convenient until you realize it’s a permanent parking lot.
Bike it. The bike paths coming off the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges lead you right into the neighborhood. There are Citi Bike docks everywhere. It’s the smartest way to get to Adams Street without losing your mind.
If you're taking the subway:
- The F Train: Get off at York Street. Exit the station, turn right, walk down the hill. It’s right there.
- The A/C Train: Get off at High Street–Brooklyn Bridge. Use the Adams Street exit. You’ll pop out in a park-like area and 117 is just a few blocks north.
Misconceptions About the DUMBO Heights Campus
People think these buildings are brand new because they look so polished. They aren't. They’ve been through a lot. Before the Watchtower era, this was the heart of the "walled city," a nickname for the industrial fortresses that dominated the Brooklyn waterfront.
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Another misconception: it’s only for tech bros.
While there is a lot of tech, there’s also a surprising amount of non-profit work, architecture firms, and media companies. The scale of 117 Adams allows for smaller suites too, not just massive floor-through leases. You might find a 5-person boutique agency sitting right next to a global corporate satellite office.
Actionable Insights for Visitors and Prospective Tenants
If you are heading to 117 Adams St Brooklyn NY for a meeting or a new job, here is the ground-level advice you actually need:
- Arrival Time: Give yourself an extra 10 minutes. The elevator banks can be slow during peak morning rushes, and the security check-in process varies by floor.
- Coffee Strategy: Skip the immediate lobby options if they're slammed. Walk a block over to Jay Street. There are smaller holes-in-the-wall that are faster and cheaper.
- The "Secret" Spots: Use the pedestrian plazas between the buildings. They’re great for taking a private call without the echo of a concrete office.
- Lunch: Don't just do the fast-casual thing. Walk down to Front Street. There are spots like Westville that offer actual seating and a break from the "office" vibe.
- Leasing: If you’re a business owner, look for "sublets." Because of the high volume of coworking space in this building, you can often find shorter-term deals that give you the Dumbo address without a 10-year commitment.
The real soul of 117 Adams isn't in its lobby or its renovated elevators. It’s in the history of the walls. You can still see the industrial bones if you look closely enough—the over-engineered pillars and the thickness of the floors. It’s a building that was meant to hold heavy machinery, and now it holds the "lightweight" digital economy. It’s a strange, successful metamorphosis.
Final Logistics Check
Check the building's current directory online before you arrive, as the retail landscape in Dumbo shifts fast. What was a juice bar last month might be a gallery next month. 117 Adams stays relevant because it adapts. It’s a massive piece of Brooklyn history that found a way to stay useful in a world that doesn't need printing presses anymore.
Next Steps:
If you're planning a visit, download the "DUMBO Brooklyn" app which occasionally has building-specific events or discounts for the retail shops at 117 Adams. For businesses, contact the DUMBO Heights leasing office directly rather than going through third-party aggregate sites to see the most current floor plan availability and "pre-built" suite options.