How one of Brooklyn’s most expensive neighborhoods became home base for the creative class

In the past two years alone, more than 40 architecture and creative firms have signed leases in Dumbo. That’s by design.

When international architecture firm Snøhetta found its Manhattan lease was coming up last year, a search kicked off for a new workspace. The firm, which had been located in New York City for 21 years, scoured neighborhoods near and far, such as the Brooklyn Navy Yards.