Manhattan’s first purpose-built film and television studio campus has officially opened, with Sunset Pier 94 Studios launching last week in Hell’s Kitchen and quickly landing a major tenant: Paramount Television Studios, which has signed on to film season two of Dexter: Resurrection.
Paramount has leased roughly 70,000 square feet at the new waterfront complex, occupying two soundstages along with production support and office space for the Showtime series, which streams on Paramount+. The move cements Dexter: Resurrection as the inaugural production at the $350 million campus and signals growing momentum for New York City’s expanding studio infrastructure.
Developed as a joint venture between Vornado Realty Trust, Hudson Pacific Properties and Blackstone, in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Sunset Pier 94 Studios spans approximately 232,000 square feet at 711 12th Avenue. The facility includes six purpose-built soundstages with up to 36-foot clear heights, extensive production offices and support space overlooking the Hudson River, on-site parking, and a mill — features designed to meet the needs of large-scale, modern productions.
Hudson Pacific Properties chairman and CEO Victor Coleman called the project “the first purpose-built studio facility in Manhattan,” noting that it was designed from the ground up rather than adapted from warehouse conversions. “Robust pre-leasing interest underscores the project’s unmatched quality and prime location,” Coleman said, adding that additional deals are in the pipeline.
The opening was marked Tuesday by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by city and state officials, developers and industry executives. Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal framed the studio as both an economic engine and a cultural asset for the surrounding neighborhood, calling it “a new lifeline” for Hell’s Kitchen and the West Side.
City Council Speaker Julie Menin emphasized the broader economic impact of film and television production, describing the sector as a $104 billion industry that supports more than 300,000 jobs citywide. Beyond direct employment, she noted, productions fuel surrounding businesses — from restaurants and hotels to dry cleaners and transportation services.
The Pier 94 redevelopment also includes public-facing amenities tied to the Hudson River Park, including new public restrooms, a nearly 2,000-square-foot community space, waterfront access, and safety improvements to the adjacent bikeway.
Paramount will use the facility to shoot season two of Dexter: Resurrection, starring Michael C. Hall as the iconic serial killer Dexter Morgan. Season one was filmed across Westchester County, Long Island and all five boroughs of New York City. By committing to a second season in-state, the production qualifies for an additional 10 percent New York tax credit on top of the existing 30 percent incentive.
“We are thrilled to bring the second season of Dexter: Resurrection to Sunset Pier 94 Studios and its state-of-the-art facilities,” Drew Brown, executive vice president of production for Paramount Television Studios, said in a statement. “We look forward to gaining greater access to the region’s incredible creative talent while leveraging a competitive tax credit program and reinforcing our commitment to U.S. production.”
Empire State Development president and CEO Hope Knight also pointed to New York’s expanded incentive programs as a key driver. “Governor Hochul’s expansion of the film production tax credit is incentivizing companies like Paramount Television Studios to continue investing in our state,” she said.
Sunset Pier 94 Studios is expected to create approximately 400 permanent jobs and contribute an estimated $6.4 billion to the local economy over the next 30 years, according to the developers. Vornado holds a 49.9 percent stake in the project, contributing its long-term leasehold at Pier 94, while Hudson Pacific and Blackstone each hold roughly quarter stakes. Vornado’s ground and building lease on the site runs through 2110.
With Dexter: Resurrection anchoring the campus and additional productions in negotiation, Sunset Pier 94 Studios arrives as a significant new pillar in New York’s effort to close the gap with competing North American production hubs — and as a clear signal that Manhattan is once again open for large-scale, studio-based television production.
