New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, and NYC Economic Development Corporation President Andrew Kimball have announced the next phase of the Science Park and Research Campus (SPARC) Kips Bay project in Manhattan. The initiative aims to establish a new life sciences innovation, career, and education hub on the East Side.
Deconstruction of the current campus is scheduled to begin in February 2026, with construction of the new SPARC campus set for 2027. The project is expected to create over 15,000 jobs and generate $42 billion in economic impact over 30 years. It will provide more than two million square feet of academic, public health, and life sciences space.
Governor Hochul stated, “The new SPARC campus will drive innovation and research for New York’s nation-leading life sciences ecosystem, ensuring that groundbreaking medical advances are done right here in this city. Over the past four years, Mayor Adams and I have made bold strides to uplift New York City’s economy, create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers, address the affordable housing crisis head-on, and forge ahead with critical infrastructure projects — showcasing what can be accomplished through state and city partnership.”
Mayor Adams commented on the project’s significance: “SPARC Kips Bay will transform an entire New York City block into a state-of-the-art destination for the life sciences and healthy industry. It will create 15,000 good-paying jobs and generate over $42 billion in economic impact for our city. We thank our partners, NYCEDC, CUNY, and, especially, Governor Hochul for her steadfast support and leadership.” He also highlighted previous joint efforts with Governor Hochul to make New York City more affordable and advance major infrastructure projects.
CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez said: “SPARC Kips Bay will expand pathways into public health careers for our students and provide state-of-the-art facilities for our faculty who are conducting research for the public good. I’m pleased to mark this milestone and grateful to Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams for their leadership and support of this transformational project, which will strengthen our city and university.”
NYCEDC President Kimball described SPARC Kips Bay as “a transformative project that represents a path-breaking approach to economic development in New York City — transforming an entire city block into a world-class hub that bridges together economic opportunity, cutting-edge innovation, and research while creating strong, accessible career pathways for New Yorkers of all backgrounds into the innovative sectors of today and tomorrow.”
Hunter College President Nancy Cantor noted: “Hunter College is thrilled to partner with the state and city on this aptly named project that will ignite collaboration across sectors. By paving seamless career pathways all the way from K–12 to higher education to careers, SPARC will take human capacity building in the health sciences in New York City to a whole new level.”
Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes of CUNY Graduate School of Public Health added: “This is a significant moment for our school… The new SPARC Kips Bay campus will give us the room we need with modern classrooms where our students can learn… This move isn’t just about more square footage; it’s about finally having the infrastructure to match our ambitions for training future public health professionals.”
The Innovation East development at 455 First Ave. will replace an outdated Public Health Lab with a modern life science hub. The lab itself will relocate to Harlem by 2026. Demolition at 455 First Ave. is anticipated after the Department of Health vacates in 2026; construction follows in 2027.
SPARC Kips Bay passed Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) review with approval from New York City Council in February 2025.
The project supports LifeSci NYC’s broader goal of creating ten million square feet of life sciences space across New York City while fostering job creation within these sectors.
Other leaders voiced their support:
Building Trades Council President Gary LaBarbera said: “The groundbreaking of SPARC Kips Bay marks a major step forward in strengthening our health care and life sciences infrastructure while creating thousands of good-paying jobs…”
Representative Jerrold Nadler remarked: “The SPARC Kips Bay project will provide thousands of jobs and create a state-of-the-art life sciences innovation… This groundbreaking marks the beginning of a major boost to New York’s life sciences…”
State Senator Kristen Gonzalez stated: “SPARC Kips Bay builds on the state-of-the-art public health… institutions… I applaud Governor Hochul, and Mayor Adams for their work…”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine called it “a game-changer” connecting research facilities with job opportunities.
City Council Member Keith Powers said: “Today’s milestone is another step forward for a transformational project…”
Council Member-Elect Virginia Maloney described it as “exactly the kind of coordinated, future-focused economic development New York City needs.”
Empire State Development CEO Hope Knight said: “SPARC Kips Bay will connect New Yorkers—from public school students to CUNY graduates—with careers in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries…”
Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jason Graham highlighted its importance as “a concrete step toward … a state-of-the-art forensic pathology center…”
CUNY remains central to this initiative as one of America’s largest urban public universities serving nearly 240,000 students across five boroughs each year. More information about CUNY can be found at https://www.cuny.edu.
