The Brass Factory

Short story. Avoid. Run by a manager, Alice, who thinks it is okay to berate, humiliate, and impulsively kick out paying members for inexplicable reasons. The Brass Factory is a gorgeous space with plentiful phone booths. I spent time in those booths because running my AI automation agency requires me to dictate notes and discuss private matters. Out of courtesy to others in the open spaces, I used the soundproof booths, which were never in short supply. Alice had an inexplicable problem with this. She barged in on multiple occasions, rudely demanding to know what I was doing, but never clarified any actual policy on talking in the phone booths. This culminated on my last day when she confronted me at the snack bar. She raised her voice, bizarrely asked if I had kids, took away a food item I was holding, and furiously told me I was expelled. She then had a staff member escort me out (who, to his credit, handled the intensely uncomfortable room dynamics with total professionalism). Additionally, despite written confirmation that memberships could be paused monthly, she angrily confronted me when I actually exercised that right. There are too many great coworking spaces here in Williamsburg to spend your workday walking on eggshells around unpredictable management. Avoid.

Great workplace, great community. Only complain is I keep walking into the plants hanging from the ceiling. But I think that's on me.

The Brass Factory is the best co-working space I've been to both in the city & in Brooklyn. The vibe/atmosphere is great, the staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful, and they provide really nice food and coffee every day. Highly recommend for startups/founders.

The Brass Factory is one of the best co-working spaces I've been to both in the city & in Brooklyn. The vibe/atmosphere is great, the staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful, and they provide really nice food and coffee every day. Highly recommend for startups/founders.

Not here to trash this place — I've seen reviews saying the staff is friendly and the space is clean, and I have no reason to doubt that. But there's something I wish someone had told me before I considered this location. This building was constructed in 1946 and operated as a brass factory for decades. Brass manufacturing involves copper, zinc, and lead. When factories like this close, traces of those materials don't just disappear — they can stay in the soil, walls, and air systems of the building long after the machines are gone... Because of this history, NYC's Department of Buildings has flagged this property with an Environmental Restriction (HAZMAT). That means the government has officially noted that this building may contain residual industrial contaminants — things like heavy metals or chemical vapors that can linger in enclosed spaces. It's not a confirmation that the air/building is dangerous. It's a flag that says: this needs to be checked... On top of that, public records currently show: 1: a Class 1 SWO is the most serious type and it means the city found an immediately hazardous condition. 2: The environmental restriction described above (HAZMAT) 3: 164 unresolved violations out of 186 total You can verify this yourself: go to the NYC DOB website and search BIN 3062293. Takes one minute... Before signing anything, I'd suggest asking management one simple question: "Before we proceed, could you please provide the OER Notice of Satisfaction for this property, and a recent third-party indoor air quality test report?" How they respond will tell you everything. You're spending 8+ hours a day in an enclosed office. That question is worth asking.