Illustrative renderings courtesy of The New York Climate Exchange and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
A state-of-the-art hub dedicated to climate change research is moving forward on Governors Island. Led by Stony Brook University, the New York Climate Exchange is a cross-sector, nonprofit group dedicated to research and developing solutions to the global climate crisis. The Exchange on Thursday released new renderings of the 400,000-square-foot campus designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) to include classrooms, laboratories, student and facility housing, new open space, and more. The Exchange also announced the selection of Skanska USA as the construction manager for the climate center, which is scheduled to break ground next year.
Following the 2021 rezoning of the island’s southern end and a two-year bidding process, Mayor Eric Adams and the Trust for Governors Island in 2023 selected the New York Climate Exchange, led by Stony Brook, to build the nation’s first climate research and education hub on Governors Island.
The project adds 4.5 acres of outdoor space, 230,000 square feet of new buildings, and repurposes another 170,000 square feet of existing buildings. According to SOM, the new buildings will “weave sinuous mass timber pavilions, topped with photovoltaic arrays,” and range in height from eight to four stories to match the scale of historic Ligget Hall, which will provide student dorms and staff accommodations.
The new climate center will be the first large-scale commercial building in New York to use mass timber, a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. The building will achieve the “Living Building Challenge” certification by using geothermal and solar energy, minimizing carbon footprint, implementing sustainable waste management systems, and elevating construction and shorelines to mitigate sea-level rise.
“Today’s announcement marks an exciting milestone in the development of the New York Climate Exchange, which will help lead New York City’s efforts to accelerate tools for cities to prepare for and adapt to climate change with expansive research and educational opportunities right here on Governors Island,” Clare Newman, President and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island, said.
“Once built, the Exchange’s facilities will serve as a model for sustainable and resilient urban environments while supporting Governors Island’s growth as a resource for New Yorkers. We congratulate the Exchange and Skanska USA in bringing this project one step closer to completion.”
Through a mix of old and new buildings, the campus will include research labs, classrooms, greenhouses, dorms, and community spaces. The first phase of the plan includes 4.5 acres of new open space, adding to Governors Island’s existing 120 acres of space.
The Exchange will focus on programming, research, and policy work related to the built environment, community resilience and health, financial solutions, energy and carbon management, and the key role of oceans.
“We are honored to have been selected by the Climate Exchange to construct this important facility that will serve not only as a model for sustainability, but a hub dedicated to researching and creating innovative climate solutions,” Sean Szatkowski, executive vice president-general manager, Skanska USA Building, said.
“Our extensive experience in building sustainable and resilient infrastructure combined with our ability to bring a full scope of emerging technologies to construction, will allow us to create a state-of-the-art climate innovation center, featuring elements of mass timber, solar and geothermal power, as well as initiatives to adaptively reuse and preserve the island’s historic structures.”
The first phase of the project includes academic, research, and convening spaces, new construction and restored historic buildings, and four acres of open space. Construction on the Exchange will begin next year and wrap up by 2029.
Under the plan, the Trust for Governors Island will provide ferry service every 15 minutes, including via a hybrid electric ferry, which launched last year.
As 6sqft previously reported, total costs are estimated to be about $700 million, with $150 million in previously allocated city capital funding, $100 million from the Simons Foundation, and $50 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The remaining funds for development and operational costs will be raised by the Exchange.
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