NYAB Venue - Knockdown Center

Knockdown Center

Event Space in The Queens area

Knockdown Center is an art center and event space dedicated to unusual projects and collaborations.

The 50,000 square foot building has seen continuous use for more than 100 years: first as a glass factory, then as a door factory. It is named for the Knock-Down door frame that was invented here in 1956 by Samuel Sklar and remains an industry standard to this day. The frame could be shipped in pieces — or “knocked down” — and installed into existing walls, revolutionizing the speed and efficiency of building construction.

The factory has since remained in the Sklar family and is again a site for innovation. Having undergone a renovation that is equal parts preservationist and state of the art, Knockdown Center now produces and hosts cultural events and exhibitions that respond to its unique architecture and dimensions. Featuring programming of diverse formats and media, Knockdown Center aims to create a radically cross-disciplinary environment.