1888 Studios Named NAIOP New Jersey's 2026 Emerging Markets Deal of the Year

New Jersey’s commercial real estate industry honors the public-private partnership behind the largest purpose-built film and television production development in the Northeast

BAYONNE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--1888 Studios, the landmark film and television production campus under development on Bayonne's waterfront, received the 2026 Emerging Markets Deal of the Year award from NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association – New Jersey Chapter. The award, presented at NAIOP NJ's 39th Annual Commercial Real Estate Awards Gala at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, New Jersey, recognizes transactions that demonstrate exceptional creativity, complexity, and impact within New Jersey's commercial real estate market. President of Business Development Flynn Busson accepted the award on behalf of 1888 Studios and its partners.

“We are deeply grateful for this recognition from NAIOP New Jersey. This award speaks to just how transformative 1888 Studios is, not only for New Jersey's commercial real estate landscape, but for the future of film and television production in America,” said Busson. “We set out to build something the New Jersey market had never seen – a purpose-built campus of this scale, designed for movie makers by movie makers. That vision is what NAIOP has recognized today, and we believe it will redefine where, and how great film and television are made.”

“1888 Studios represents exactly the kind of transformative deal that defines what is possible in New Jersey’s commercial real estate market. The conversion of a long-dormant brownfield into the Northeast's largest purpose-built production campus is a testament to the creativity and ambition of everyone involved in this public-private partnership,” said Dan Kennedy, CEO of NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association – New Jersey Chapter. “NAIOP New Jersey is proud to recognize 1888 Studios as our 2026 Emerging Markets Deal of the Year, and we look forward to watching this project reshape the state's economic and creative future for decades to come.”

The award recognizes the public-private partnership behind one of the most significant commercial real estate transactions in New Jersey’s history: the conversion of a 74-acre former Texaco refinery into a 1.5 million-square-foot production campus designed to meet the evolving needs of world-class filmmakers and storytellers.

The award also celebrates the full partnership behind the deal: Togus Urban Renewal LLC, Sills Cummis & Gross P.C., Gensler/Turner Construction, Pizzutillo Public Affairs LLC, U.S. Title Solutions, Bayonne City Municipality, NJEDA, Biggins Lacy Shapiro & Company LLC, Benecke Economics, Langan, PS&S/SESI Consulting Engineers, and Elysian Consulting Group LLC.

The project is anchored by a landmark minimum 10-year lease agreement with Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, committing to more than 285,000 square feet of production space. 1888 Studios continues to engage additional tenants and industry partners to further strengthen the campus's role as a hub for innovation and creativity and position New Jersey at the forefront of the global entertainment industry.

About 1888 Studios
Blending New Jersey’s cinematic legacy with state-of-the-art facilities, 1888 Studios will be up to 1.5 million square-foot film and television studio development in Bayonne, poised to be the Northeast’s largest – and one of the largest in the nation – premier production campus, intentionally designed with superior infrastructure and support facilities to empower world-class creators. Uniquely located in Bayonne, NJ, less than 30 minutes from downtown Manhattan, with unrivaled access by train, car, helicopter, and boat, 1888 Studios will sit in the core of one of the largest studio markets in the world, within the union-mandated 25-mile studio zone centered on Columbus Circle. Utilizing 1888 Studios’ all-inclusive facility will allow the world's most innovative creators to benefit from both its Film-Lease Partner Facility designation and the New Jersey’s expansive tax program – one of the leading programs in the world – creating cost-saving operational efficiencies that will result in a near-limitless canvas for creativity.

1888 Studios’ campus will fulfill the region’s pressing need for a purposefully built facility to house film and television under one roof, including the ability to power large-scale filmmaking technologies such as LED volume capture. The campus will be home to 23 state-of-the-art smart stages ranging from 18,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet with a minimum of 40-foot clear ceilings to the grid and catwalks. Further features include over 10 acres of basecamp parking, dedicated on-site five-story parking garage, a massive 22-acre water backlot privately owned by the studio, and conveniently located on-site industry vendors, including a dedicated lighting and grip facility. Created by movie makers for movie makers, 1888 Studios will provide a dynamic environment that puts the creatives at the forefront of all campus decision making, while providing unparalleled opportunities for cost-effectiveness.

For more information on 1888 Studios, visit 1888studios.com.