I went on a wild adventure when I visited Oliver Ackermann’s headquarters inside the former Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg. It’s a practice space for his band, A Place to Bury Strangers, and base of operations for his guitar-effects-pedal company Death by Audio. Ackermann found the space on Craigslist in 2005 after what felt like a never-ending search. His wonderland is just behind that door, but don’t let the hallway’s sterile aesthetic mislead you ” Photo: Wendy Goodman
I asked Ackermann to show me what he does with this helicopter cargo net, and he willingly jumped inside. The TV, which was used in one of the band’s music videos, holds its own on the lime-green wall. Photo: Wendy Goodman
This is where Death by Audio crafts its hand-wired guitar-effects pedals; it’s so impressive. Photo: Wendy Goodman
The company ships the pedals all over the world. Ackermann & Co. have made custom equipment for U2, Wilco, and Nine Inch Nails. Photo: Wendy Goodman
Ackermann designed the sound room, constructed the practice space, and built all the equipment. Photo: Wendy Goodman
This is where A Place to Bury Strangers records its music. The band is off touring Europe for the next few months, and its new album, Worship, was released in June by Dead Oceans. Photo: Wendy Goodman
A hand-painted landing, the mural is by George Wilson from the band Dirty on Purpose. Photo: Wendy Goodman
There are two performance spaces down the hall; various other bands contributed to this fantastic mural. Photo: Wendy Goodman
By the end of my tour, I was beginning to think everything was an art installation, even this set of pipes! Photo: Wendy Goodman
