Macro Sea

Macro Sea
Company type	Private
Industry	Real estate development
Founded	2009
Founder	David Belt
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Key people	David Belt (Founder), Rebecca Birmingham (Creative Director and General Counsel), Nicko Elliott (Design Director), Liz Song (Designer and Project Manager), Stephanie Hemshrot (Studio Director), Allison Moss (Special Projects Coordinator)
Products	Adaptive reuse projects, temporary utilization projects, real estate development including educational facilities, arts venues, retail spaces, residential properties, student accommodations, cultural institutions
Website	www.macroseainc.com

Macro Sea is a U.S.-based real estate development company established in 2009 by developer David Belt. The firm specializes in adaptive reuse and temporary utilization projects and gained notable recognition for its work on New Lab, located in Building 128 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Its diverse portfolio includes educational facilities, arts venues, retail spaces, residential properties, student accommodations, and cultural institutions.

History

Since its inception in 2009, Macro Sea has functioned as an entrepreneurial platform for David Belt’s development initiatives, driven by continuous collaboration among professionals in law, art, architecture, and design.

The company’s early team featured contributors such as Jocko Weyland (2009–2011), Alix Feinkind (2009–2012), Elise DeChard (2011–2013), and Alexandra Escamilla (2012–2014). Presently, the leadership group comprises founder David Belt; Rebecca Birmingham, who serves as Creative Director and General Counsel (2010–present); Nicko Elliott as Design Director (2013–present); Liz Song in roles of Designer and Project Manager (2015–present); Studio Director Stephanie Hemshrot (2014–present); and Allison Moss as Special Projects Coordinator (2016–present).

New Lab

New Lab represents a public-private collaboration with the City of New York, transforming Building 128 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard—once a boiler and machine workshop—into a center dedicated to design and advanced manufacturing. Launched in June 2016, this facility supports enterprises specializing in hardware development and product innovation, with a strong emphasis on additive manufacturing technologies. This project has been instrumental in reestablishing the Brooklyn Navy Yard as a vibrant manufacturing and industrial hub.

Spanning 84,000 square feet, the space encourages cooperation among designers, engineers, and entrepreneurs working across fields such as product design, materials science, biology, industrial design, and physical computing. The operational model promotes interdisciplinary innovation alongside member consulting services. Early occupants included Honeybee Robotics, Nanotronics Imaging, 10x Beta, Spuni, RockPaperRobot, Terreform ONE, The Living, D.N.I., Eco Systems, NEA Studio, Jenna Spevack Studio, The Extrapolation Factory, Eric Forman Studio, Zago, and Itemology. More recent tenants like Strongarm Technologies, Voltaic Systems, Farmshelf, Waverly Labs, and Renovate Robotics demonstrate ongoing expansion and increasing market presence.

G27 Global Institute

Situated in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district, the G27 Global Institute serves as a design-oriented residence tailored for study-abroad students. Developed by Macro Sea, this project challenges traditional student housing models that founder David Belt critiques as frequently institutionalized and uninspired. Reflecting Macro Sea’s approach to adaptive reuse of historic structures for innovative living environments, the company converted the former Roka manufacturing site—an 85,000-square-foot complex—into a mixed-use academic campus comprising administrative offices, faculty residences, and student dormitories at 27 Gneisenaustrasse.

Macro Sea designed G27 as a vertical campus that integrates residential living with academic facilities, dining areas, and social spaces all within a single building. The interior design blends modern elements with custom-crafted pieces alongside vintage Bavarian and Danish furnishings—many salvaged from the original factory—to promote sustainability while preserving local character. Intended to encourage student engagement, the building features a communal area centered around a fireplace and café. The residential portion accommodates 200 students with adaptable room layouts and private bathrooms. Opened in Fall 2015, G27 is leased to the Council on International Educational Exchange and aligns with Macro Sea’s global footprint and involvement in international education markets.

Glassphemy!

Glassphemy! is a "psychological recycling experiment" initiated by Macro Sea in 2010, designed to rethink traditional recycling approaches. Situated within a private space in Gowanus, Brooklyn, this 20' by 30' installation was constructed from steel and bulletproof glass, providing an immersive recycling encounter. Participants could safely hurl glass bottles at individuals positioned behind protective bulletproof glass, creating a unique interactive experience. The project sought to engage the community while exploring themes of urban tension and aggression.

The concept was developed through a partnership involving Vamos Architects, John Wischmann, Paul Maiello, and Jason Krugman, incorporating materials such as plexiglass, steel, wood, dynamic lighting, and glass bottles. Glassphemy! earned industry acclaim after being featured in the 2013 MoMA Design and Violence Exhibition along with its related publication.

Mobile Pools

Macro Sea’s mobile pool project from 2009 to 2010, often referred to as "dumpster pools," exemplifies its approach of repurposing overlooked resources for urban revitalization. Capitalizing on dumpsters donated due to the economic downturn, these containers were thoroughly cleaned, lined with plastic sheeting, and equipped with filtration systems akin to those used in above-ground pools. Founders David Belt, Jocko Weyland, and Alix Feinkind envisioned this initiative as a pilot for converting neglected strip mall spaces into dynamic community destinations featuring inventive attractions like these pools.

In 2010, Macro Sea partnered with the New York City Mayor's Office and Department of Transportation to showcase the pools during the Annual Summer Streets event held on Park Avenue Viaduct. This installation drew hundreds of attendees across three consecutive weekends. The following year, the pools were presented at the Venice Biennale, bolstering Macro Sea’s international presence and influence within adaptive urban design circles.

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