New York Construction Report staff writer
New York City Council has approved the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay and Innovation East projects.
SPARC Kips Bay will turn an entire city block into a hub for life sciences innovation, education, and career development. The project, which will span more than 2 million square feet, will include academic institutions, public health facilities, and state-of-the-art life sciences spaces. Originally announced in October 2022 by Mayor Eric Adams, Governor Kathy Hochul, NYCEDC, and CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, SPARC Kips Bay is expected to create over 15,000 jobs, generate $42 billion in economic impact over the next 30 years, and provide a career pipeline for students in New York City’s public schools and universities. Deconstruction is expected to begin by the end of 2025.
NYCEDC also plans to release a request for proposals (RFP) for developers to build one million square feet of life sciences space and modern facilities for NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) as part of SPARC’s second phase. Additionally, phase one of the project will be developed on behalf of CUNY, NYC Public Schools (NYCPS), the NYC School Construction Authority, and the City. The project will also include new community infrastructure, such as SPARC Square, a new 25th Street pedestrian bridge, streetscape improvements, and a floodwall tie-in.
The project will be developed at 455 First Avenue. The new facility will replace the outdated Public Health Lab with a modern research space. The lab will relocate to a new site in Harlem, with construction expected to be completed by late 2025. Demolition of the current site is scheduled for 2026, with new construction slated for 2027.
SPARC Kips Bay and Innovation East are key pieces in the city’s LifeSci NYC initiative, which seeks to create 10 million square feet of life sciences space and generate new jobs in healthcare, public health, and biotechnology.
Mayor Adams called SPARC Kips Bay “the exact kind of spark our city needs to ignite our economy,” noting it would create 15,000 good-paying jobs and lead in the emerging life sciences sector.
Key details of the SPARC Kips Bay project include:
- Over 15,000 jobs, including 12,000 union construction jobs and 3,100 permanent positions in the life sciences sector.
- More than 1.5 acres of public improvements, including a new ADA-accessible pedestrian bridge at 25th Street over the FDR Drive.
- New clinical classrooms and teaching labs for Hunter College School of Nursing, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, and Borough of Manhattan Community College health programs.
- A NYC Public Schools health and science-focused high school and STEAM center.
- Outpatient ambulatory care services and a training simulation center for NYC Health + Hospitals.
- A new forensic pathology center and medical examiner facility for OCME.
- Life sciences research labs for companies of all sizes.
- Community and retail spaces to support the surrounding neighborhood.
“The state-of-the-art projects at SPARC Kips Bay and Innovation East will not only drive significant economic impact but also create a strong talent pipeline through the city’s academic institutions and organizations,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Andrew Kimball.
