How the Project Came Together
Innovation East is a key initiative to advance the city’s LifeSci NYC goal of delivering 10 million square feet of life sciences space, while creating and attracting accessible jobs in life sciences, healthcare, and public health. The plan for began in response to a formal request by the NYC Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) for expressions of interest in the creation of a life sciences research hub in New York City.
The partnership’s vision is to deliver a state-of-the-art life sciences facility for companies across many stages of development, as well as anchor tenant NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Innovation East will provide spaces that facilitate research and the development of potential new treatments and cures. The partnership also seeks to promote collaboration within the life sciences ecosystem while engaging the local community.
Through a competitive RFEI selection process, lead respondent NYU Grossman School of Medicine, working with Taconic and DivcoWest, was awarded the opportunity to develop the project at 455 First Avenue.
In addition to cementing New York City as a global leader in the life sciences sector along with SPARC Kips Bay, Innovation East is designed with sustainability in mind and is targeting LEED Gold certification, with energy-efficient systems and fully electric infrastructure, while also providing flood resiliency.
Building for the Future
Realizing NYC’s Goal to Grow Life Sciences
2008
Community Board 6 planning acknowledges the health & sciences on First Ave Corridor
2010s
NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) evaluates the future of the outdated Public Health Lab (PHL) building at 455 First Avenue
2016
NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) launches LifeSci NYC, an initiative to create thousands of jobs in the life science sector and establish NYC as the global leader in life sciences
2018
DOHMH announces relocation of PHL to a new facility in Harlem
NYC EDC releases RFEI for a Life Sciences Hub including 455 First Avenue
2022
City selects a team of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Taconic, and DivcoWest to develop 455 First Avenue
New PHL building breaks ground in Harlem
2023
New PHL building tops out in Harlem
NYCEDC, along with Taconic and DivcoWest, commence ongoing community engagement for Innovation East at 455 First Avenue
2024
Public review process for Innovation East commences; project receives support from Community Board 6, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and the NYC City Planning Commission
2025
Innovation East receives unanimous approval from City Council
2026
New PHL building in Harlem to be completed
Old PHL to be vacated
2027
Demolition of the old PHL and construction of Innovation East to begin
2031
Target completion of Innovation East