B
arclays Center’s basement has just been transformed into a set of six artist dressing rooms that look and feel like Brooklyn brownstones, even though they’re not for sale. The change is part of the arena’s $100 million, multi‑year overhaul, and it was carried out in the heart of the venue’s gutted renovation of its six artist suites.

    Laurie Jacoby, chief entertainment officer at BSE Global, told The Post that the custom paint was freshly applied to the arena’s interior during the gut‑level remodel. The 2,200‑square‑foot space was redesigned to echo the classic brownstone aesthetic: thick crown molding, pocket doors, and a palette of warm, earthy tones. “We didn’t want to hold back,” Jacoby said.

    The new entryway lifts guests out of the cinderblock basement and into a space that feels like a Park Slope townhouse. The once‑gray walls and dull black chairs have been replaced by golden sconces, velvet love seats, vintage‑inspired lighting, and freshly lime‑washed walls. Each room is named after a well‑known Brooklyn neighborhood and painted in a color that reflects that area—army green for Fort Greene, brick red for Brooklyn Heights, deep plum for Park Slope, and so on.

    A vestibule fronts the rooms, featuring checkered marble floors, frosted glass, and a gleaming chandelier. “You don’t feel like you’re in an arena when you come in,” Jacoby said. “That’s part of what we wanted to achieve—leave the world outside for a moment and find a little respite.”

    The redesign was executed by the Brooklyn Home Company, who faced a bare‑bones space that had not been updated since the arena opened in 2012. The old rooms were utilitarian: gray walls, swinging metal doors, fluorescent lights, and plain black leather seating—more DMV than VIP. Jacoby compared the former state to an airport lobby and said artists need a home, which the new rooms now provide.

    The project drew inspiration from Brooklyn’s iconic 19th‑ and early‑20th‑century townhouses, known for their reddish‑brown sandstone facades, high stoops, and opulent entrances. The new furniture was sourced from local Brooklyn shops, and the décor pays homage to the neighborhoods with items like coffee‑table books by Spike Lee and other hometown heroes.

    Nine Inches Nails were among the first acts to use the new suites, followed by Puerto Rican rapper Eladio Carrión and country singer Eric Church. Reactions have been positive, Jacoby said. The rooms can accommodate up to 56 people, including glam squads, management teams, and meet‑and‑greets, and are connected by pocket doors for seamless flow.

    Durability was a key concern, given the high‑traffic environment and the possibility of hard‑partying musicians. The rooms feature custom marble countertops, sculptural side tables, vintage vanity lighting, and white‑marble showers with new fixtures. While the design avoids the luxury of clawfoot tubs and high‑end appliances, it still offers a stylish yet resilient environment that artists respect and want to keep pristine.

    The dressing‑room renovation is part of the broader $100 million facelift, which aims to keep Barclays Center competitive with larger venues like Madison Square Garden. “It’s a very competitive marketplace,” Jacoby said. “I want Brooklyn to stand out.”

    The project is slated for completion by 2027 or 2028, and while Jacoby declined to disclose the specific cost of the dressing‑room overhaul, it is included in the overall budget. She believes the investment is worth every cent, noting that people who have seen the new rooms are “completely blown away” and that those who were there before will feel they’re in a different building.