Erector Square, Artist studios in Fair Haven, New Haven, US
Erector Square is a complex of 11 brick buildings on a site in central Fair Haven that houses nearly 150 studios across three stories. The buildings sit at the intersection of Blatchley Avenue and Peck Street and offer workspace in widely varying sizes for different types of creative work.
The complex was built in 1923 as a manufacturing site for Erector Set toys and American Flyer trains, until Gilbert Toys stopped operations in 1967. After toy production ended, the site was converted into an arts center for local creatives.
The artists and performers working here shape the daily life of the neighborhood and create a place where creativity is visible. You encounter painters, musicians, and designers who often keep their doors open, turning the complex into an active creative hub.
Buildings 2 and 3 have wheelchair ramps, and the studios vary greatly in their size and layout. Visitors should expect the site to span several structures and to navigate on uneven ground.
The third floor of Building 3 still contains the original office of A.C. Gilbert, the inventor of the famous toy. This preserved space offers a direct connection to the site's origins in the toy industry.
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