New York Construction Report staff writer
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Newlab have announced the 2025 cohorts for the NYC Mass Timber Studio and Resilient Energy Studio, two initiatives designed to advance sustainable construction and clean energy storage technologies across the city.
The programs are part of NYCEDC’s Climate Innovation Studios, launched to support the safe and scalable deployment of emerging climate technologies. Both studios bring together design teams, startups, and city agencies to navigate regulatory processes and technical challenges associated with low-carbon building and energy resilience.
The Mass Timber Studio focuses on integrating mass timber—a renewable, low-carbon alternative to concrete and steel—into the city’s built environment. Participants receive technical support from WoodWorks and feedback from the Department of Buildings (DOB), Fire Department of New York (FDNY), and the American Institute of Architects New York (AIA). Funding is provided through the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board.
The 2025 mass timber cohort includes:
- New York Climate Exchange, Governors Island: A 140,000-sq. ft. mass timber commercial facility with research labs, training spaces, and classrooms. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
- Stapleton B4/B5 Residential, Staten Island: Approximately 500 residential units, the city’s largest mass timber residential project.
- Soundview Recreation Center, Bronx: A 45,000-sq. ft. community facility incorporating mass timber structural elements.
- Ganeinu Academy, Queens: A 20,000-square-foot school addition rebuilt with flood resilience measures after Hurricane Ida.
- Shirley Chisholm Pavilion, Brooklyn: A 1,200-sq. ft. open-air structure in Prospect Park.
- Dockbuilders Pier, Staten Island: A 3,100-sq. ft. building to support Staten Island Ferry operations.
- 5 Timber Houses, Brooklyn: Five four-story homes (20,000 sq. ft.) built to Passive House standards with geothermal systems.
The studio will run for nine months, with ongoing advisory sessions and project development support.
The Resilient Energy Studio supports the deployment of new energy storage system (ESS) technologies. Five companies were selected for the 2025 program:
- Ashlawn Energy will install a vanadium redox flow battery in a Brooklyn residential garage.
- FlowCellutions is integrating its battery diagnostics platform with Ashlawn’s project to improve safety and battery lifespan.
- Strobe Power is deploying a hybrid battery backup system at a telecommunications site on Staten Island.
- Novele will install an indoor building-scale battery system at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
- Moment Energy plans to repurpose EV batteries for residential energy storage in the Bronx.
Both programs align with New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan and broader goals to decarbonize the built environment, improve urban resilience, and foster green job growth. Regulatory coordination with DOB and FDNY is a key component of each studio, ensuring that innovations meet the city’s rigorous safety and code requirements.
