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Dive brief:
- The New York City Economic Development Corp. has published a request for proposals for a construction manager to oversee the first phase of the Kips Bay Science Park and Research Campus project, according to a news release. The call will close on Tuesday, July 16.
- The $1 billion construction contract includes the transformation of Hunter College’s Brookdale campus in Manhattan into a life sciences innovation center. The NYCEDC expects construction to begin in late 2025 and the project to be completed by 2031.
- The redevelopment, ready to transform a the whole city block in academic, public and research facilities, recently entered the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure, a standardized process for public review of applications affecting city land use.
Diving knowledge:
The SPARC Kips Bay project, located near the East River, is part of a broader strategy to improve New York City’s waterfronttransforming them into centers of innovation and economic activity, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in the statement.
The remodeling of SPARC Kips Bay will feature new facilities for the Hunter College School of Nursing, the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, and the Borough of Manhattan Community College health programs.
In addition, the project will include an ambulatory care center, a new forensic pathology center and nearly 2 acres of public improvements, including a new ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge at 25th Street.
“The port of the future”
The SPARC Kips Bay project aligns with other life sciences developments being planned in the Kips Bay neighborhood, such as Innovation East, which will replace a former public health laboratory.
Currently in the early stages of public review, the plan calls for 500,000 square feet of life sciences retail space, business research labs for NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine, and multi-use co-working space.
The project, developed by Taconic Partners and DivcoWest, plans to incorporate LEED-Gold standard designs and flood-resistant systems.
These projects align with Adams’ “Harbor of the Future” plan, which envisions New York City’s waterfronts as centers of innovation and economic growth. Both projects are key initiatives in New York City’s goal of creating 10 million square feet of life sciences space by 2030, according to the release.
