A Day Inside Brooklyn's Sleekest Coworking Space

At first, Camp David’s wood finishes and mid-century furnishings evoke Mad Men–era glamour, but the Brooklyn coworking space ventures beyond traditional office dynamics. Occupying 40,000 square feet across three floors in a former industrial building in Sunset Park’s Industry City, Camp David hosts a wide range of small businesses and jet-setting professionals seeking a relaxed setting for an honest day’s work. The sophisticated environs are bolstered by Industry City’s tenant amenities, paving the way for organic interactions and discoveries across the 15-building complex. I spent a day there to see how it’s done.

Morning

After an almond croissant and cup (or two) of artisanal cold brew from the ground-floor cafe, I settle into a custom leather sofa in the lobby-level seating area to power through my daily email barrage. Sunlight trickles in through floor-to-ceiling glass, casting playful shadows across the concrete columns and marble reception desk. After, I head to the basement Makerspace for a panel discussion hosted by Hush, an experiential agency operating at the intersection of digital technology and physical space. Panelists, including artists Ani Liu and Mark Parsons, riff on ways designers can employ data to push forward their creative processes.

Lunch

Korean, Italian, and Mediterranean cuisines only scratch the surface of the fare at Industry City’s expansive Food Hall, populated primarily by local eateries. My inner epicurean, however, opts for a walk to Japan Village, an authentic full-service grocery offering ingredients imported from Japan. I snag a fresh bento box from Obentoyasan and meander to a courtyard seating area, abuzz with Industry City passersby, who stare at Delectable, Dan Lam’s glittery, gooey outdoor sculpture. Heading back, I pass a chocolatier’s window-display assembly line and peek inside Flavor Paper’s vibrant production studio.

Afternoon

I relocate to one of Camp David’s fourth-floor lounge areas, a space that elegantly marries old and new through original wood floors and contemporary furnishings. I snag a seat at a walnut-and-steel conference table facing a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf full of architecture volumes, rare ceramics, and potted plants. Speaking of the latter, Industry City tenant Citizen Grower is holding a workshop on indoor planting—perfect for someone like me who needs to zhuzh up their place, but can’t keep a Chia Pet alive. I race through a dead- line to make it. Needing to exercise my body rather than my brain, I head to Industry City’s gym. As the sun sets, strings of lights gradually turn on, washing the central courtyard in a gentle glow. Another day’s work is done.

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