Introduction to Wildflower Studios

Located in Astoria, New York, Wildflower Studios is a new vertical film production complex designed by Bjarke Ingels Group. The development is led by Robert De Niro and establishes a new urban typology for filmmaking in Queens’s dense industrial landscape. Film studios are traditionally organized across expansive ground-level lots, each stage accessed directly by truck. In Queens, where space is constrained, Bjarke Ingels Group condensed that familiar model into a vertical arrangement — stacking sound stages and production spaces to form what the architects describe as a ‘studio village.’ The design rethinks the logistics of production, integrating movement, delivery, and collaboration within a reduced footprint that reflects the spatial realities of the city. See designboom’s previous coverage here!

images © Laurian Ghinițoiu

The Studio Modules

The program is composed of eleven studio modules, each containing a large-span stage, vertical transport, and support spaces including dressing rooms and scene shops. Organized in two-story rows within a single volume, the modules are connected by a central spine that acts as the building’s internal street. This shared corridor forms the social core of the complex, linking stages with offices and communal terraces while drawing daylight deep into the structure. One entire floor of Wildflower Studios is dedicated to office and production support, while additional spaces like cafés and fitness areas encourage collaboration among actors, writers, and technical crews. This hybrid environment creates a working community among the practical infrastructure of filmmaking.

Wildflower Studios rises in Astoria, Queens as a new vertical model for film production

A Floating Village in Astoria

Clad in precast concrete panels, the 145-foot-tall building changes character as sunlight shifts across its angled facade. Two open-air terraces cut into the envelope, offering framed views toward the Manhattan skyline and a direct connection to the waterfront. The roof supports a 150,000-square-foot solar array, supplying power and demonstrating the project’s environmental intent. BIG lifts the structure above the floodplain, allowing service vehicles to operate beneath the building and freeing the street edge for public access. The site design extends this openness with a walkway along the creek, creating a connection between the industrial block and the riverfront. The overall form is described by the architects as a ‘floating village.’

BIG reimagines the traditional horizontal sound stage as a compact stack for the city

the modules form a dense production village tailored to the spatial constraints of New York City

the building integrates cafés and lounges to encourage collaboration among production teams

Conclusion

In conclusion, Wildflower Studios is a revolutionary film production complex that redefines the traditional model of film studios. With its vertical arrangement, the complex provides a unique and efficient way of producing films, while also promoting collaboration and community among production teams. The building’s design, led by Bjarke Ingels Group, is a testament to innovative architecture and sustainable design. As a ‘floating village’ in Astoria, Wildflower Studios sets a new standard for film production in New York City, and its impact will be felt for years to come.