Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams announced earlier this month plans for a $1.6 billion “[innovation] hub for the life sciences industry” called Science Park and Research Campus Kips Bay (SPARC). It will be the first-of-its-kind in the New York State, establishing New York as a global lead for available careers in life science and public health.
SPARC will partner with the City University of New York (CUNY) to generate a projected $25 billion for the city over the next three decades and create 10,000 jobs.
More than 1.5 million square feet in Kips Bay will be transformed into “state-of-the-art teaching and commercial facilities” on Hunter College’s Brookdale Campus. The project will further a career pipeline in life science for local students, in addition to rebuilding a pedestrian bridge that will connect East 25th St. to Manhattan Waterfront Greenway.
“SPARC Kips Bay represents a path-breaking approach to economic development in New York City where we create clusters in which commerce and schools work side-by-side to provide career pathways for CUNY and DOE students in the innovative sectors of today and tomorrow,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball.
The single campus will provide sufficient space for a new public high school and CUNY schools specializing in healthcare, innovative health and biotech companies, and public health institutions, informs the press release. Therefore, NYC students will have greater access to quality careers including doctors, engineers, biochemists and beyond.
“Thanks to this agreement with the city, SPARC Kips Bay will give New York’s life sciences sector a major boost, creating thousands of high-paying jobs, investing in education, and making New York the place where miracles are made,” Governor Hochul said.
This first-of-its-kind health and sciences hub will grow our workforce and open doors to the careers of the future.
It's a clear sign that New York is coming back — and we’re coming back stronger and better than ever.https://t.co/uz67fEFrBZ
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) October 14, 2022
Already more than 750,000 New Yorkers work in the health care sector. And jobs in life science have been on the rise, with an additional 150,000 jobs last year. SPARC estimates 2,000 permanent jobs to become available upon opening.
Planning will occur within the next year, as construction is set to break ground by 2026. If all stays on track, SPARC will be completed just five years after construction begins, in 2031.
“The transformational new campus at SPARC Kips Bay will bring together academia with industry and help New York City become the world’s leading city for life sciences and public health. With the combination of programs and spaces planned on-site, we have a truly unique opportunity to put local talent at the center of the inspiring and impactful work happening in life sciences, health care, and public health and equip them with the training they need to enter these careers,” said New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer.
Learn more about the project here.