New York – The NYC Mass Timber Studio, an initiative that concentrated on the acceleration of mass wood projects across New York City, has selected its next projects to support. Under the leadership of the New York City Economic Nycedc in cooperation with the New York Department of Buildings (DOB) and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), the studios of Climate Innovation promote the regulatory movements and innovations in order to freed up the safe establishment of critical air conditioning technologies in New York City.
This announcement of the Mass -Timber Studio of Climate Innovation Studio continues to increase the Green Economy's action plan in the city and help to promote a flourishing green economy, to decarbonize the built environment and to prepare the urban infrastructure for a quickly changing future.
The NYC mass studio supports innovative design and development teams, which for the integration of mass wood, a low-carbon building material alternative to concrete and steel, into the environment built in New York City, and promoted sustainable construction practices.
After a successful first project round, the Mass Timber Studio will support six new active projects in the early phases of mass wood planning and design for new developments in the five districts. The participating teams receive grants, technical support from Woodworks, a partner of the NYC Design Center, and the advisory feedback from DOB, FDNY and the American Institute of Architects New York (AIA). The mass wood studio is financed with the support of the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board. Studio activities have already started for nine months and will regularly meet design teams during this time for technical support and advisory support.
The selected projects for the second cohort include:
- The New York climate exchange is the largest mass wood commercial project in NYC with a total area of more than 140,000 square meters. The new building of the project will accommodate a world -class emergency area, research laboratory and classroom for a wide range of educational and training programs. The timeline comprises the construction work from 2026 and an official opening in autumn 2029.
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Stapleton B4/B5 Residential, which was announced with Mayor Adams in May 2025, will be the greatest development of mass wood in New York City with around 500 units, which are both affordable and market rate.
Stapleton B4/B5 residential building - The SoundView Recreation Center is a new 45,000 square meter recreation center in the Bronx with mass wood structure elements.
The Ganeinu Academy is a 20,000 square meter addition to an existing school in fresh meadows, Queens, which was introduced with robust resistance measures to repair damage caused by floods during the Hurrican Ida in 2021 and protect against future climate risk. - Shirley Chisholm Pavilion is a 1,200 square meter open-air pavilion in the southeastern corner of the Prospect Park-Die Break for Parkgän and an exhibition to celebrate the legacy of Shirley Chisholm.
- The Dockbuilder Pier consists of a building of 3,100 square meters to support Staten Island Ferry Operations.
- 5 wooden houses are five 4-story houses with a total of 20,000 square foot and for passive house standards with geothermal energy in Park Hang, Brooklyn.
These projects will catalyze the use of mass wood as safe, sustainable and more common construction practice in New York City. The cohort represents both a federal construction work and the additions of existing buildings with innovative wood products.
“Today's announcement is another milestone for the commitment of our city for the development of a flourishing green economy, the expansion of opportunities for all New Yorkers and the example as a global center for urban sustainability,” said Clare Newman, President and CEO of The Trust for Governor Island. “We congratulate NYCEDC, DOB and FDNY on this exciting new cohort – including the New York climate exchange, opened on Governor Island in 2029 – and we look forward to further cooperation, while we are working on the resistance of the New York City in view of the climate change.”
“Woodworks is proud to work with the New York City Economic Development Corporation for the mass wood design studio in order to accelerate the introduction of mass wood products and projects. The studio closely corresponds to our mission, efficient, sustainable and long-term mass and light frame-construction solutions.