Eyewear company Lowercase moves to Brooklyn Army Terminal manufacturing center

By

Obi Anyanwu

Published
Apr 29, 2017

Eyewear company Lowercase this month became the first high-tech manufacturing startup to operate out of the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park.
 
Founded by former Goldman Sachs employee Gerard Masci and architect Brian Vallario, Lowercase designs and produces all of its eyewear at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques such as Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining and robotics. 
 

Lowercase recently received the Made in NY: Fashion mark for manufacturing its products locally, which has allowed the company to meet orders faster and react quicker to customers and trends. Today, the startup offers sun and optical styles on its website and at stores in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
 
“Brooklyn Army Terminal is a burgeoning start-up destination and I’m glad to see that Lowercase has joined the ranks of companies based there,” said Eric L. Adams, Brooklyn Borough President.

“The robotics-driven and high-tech approach to the company’s eyewear manufacturing will further enhance Sunset Park’s status as a hub for innovation. Lowercase and other similar start-ups are creating good-paying jobs, investing resources into the borough’s economy, and employing local workers, all of which benefit Brooklynites."
 
Lowercase moves into Brooklyn Army Terminal months after the New York City Economic Development Corporation announced plans to open a new advanced manufacturing center at the Sunset Park location. The organization selected in October Techshop, the San Jose-based workshop and fabrication studio, to operate the 15,000-square-foot manufacturing center. The center is expected to create over 500 jobs in the first 5 years and launch over 200 new businesses.
 
Mayor Bill de Blasio committed $115 million in funding to the Brooklyn Army Terminal, which currently stands at three million square feet and will add 500,000 square feet by the end of the year. The terminal currently houses 100 companies.