“Expanding Pratt Institute’s footprint in the Brooklyn Navy Yard provides our graduate fine arts and photography students with exceptional studios and access to a powerful community of diverse creatives and professionals,” Pratt Institute President Frances Bronet said.

“There is a long-standing connection between manufacturing and art, much of which is steeped in the practice of making and creating. The corridor that connects Pratt and the Brooklyn Navy Yard brings together emerging artists with Navy Yard designers, fabricators, inventors, and business owners. We look forward to the exchange between Pratt’s painters, sculptors, photographers, researchers and new media graduate students and the incredible production facilities at the BNY,” Bronet added.

Pratt and the Brooklyn Navy Yard share a history of and commitment to expanding the ranks of local working professionals, from Pratt Institute founder Charles Pratt’s dedication to increasing access to education and training to the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s robust workforce that has powered decades of manufacturing and production. Also, manufacturing has historically been influenced, inspired and transformed by continued engagement with artists. 

Pratt students and faculty will have easy access between Pratt’s existing campus and Dock 72, allowing them to coordinate studio visits, exhibitions, conversations, and shop work. The new location also ushers in a permanent space for students to host their thesis shows. 

“Moving our facilities into Dock 72 will prove to be a game changer,” said Pratt School of Art Dean Jorge Oliver. “In addition to offering ample space and amenities, the building presents our students with incredible views that will inspire them in their artistic endeavors, as well as opportunities to engage with other creatives in the Navy Yard.”

 Dock 72 is nestled in a hub of technological, entrepreneurial and artistic activity. The Navy Yard, originally a shipyard for the U.S. Navy, is now an engine for local economic development and a magnet for working professionals and creative innovators through its vast manufacturing and commercial spaces.

These spaces house more than 450 businesses, including pioneers in metal fabrication, glass production and robotics, as well as the Research Yard, a 20,000-square-foot facility led by Pratt that opened on site in 2023 to unify the institute’s  research activities. 

Situated on the East River waterfront, Dock 72 serves as a visual reminder of New York’s position as an urban archipelago, an issue being explored in interdisciplinary ways across Pratt, particularly through its role as a core partner of the New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard is also served by a wide array of transportation options, including the NYC Ferry, onsite parking, Citi Bike access, bus service, and Wi-Fi-equipped shuttle service to major subway lines, affording easy access to New York City’s contemporary art scene and opportunities beyond the studio confines.  

The Dock 72 building has been optimized for energy efficiency and features a  food hall, lounge areas, outdoor terraces and rooftop gardens.