$700 million Taystee Lab Building completed

Manhattan, NY Governor Kathy Hochul celebrated the completion of the $700 million Taystee Lab Building, an 11-story, 350,000 s/f mixed-use development located in West Harlem’s Manhattanville Factory District. The former Taystee Bakery site has been repurposed and reimagined as the Taystee Lab Building, a brand-new, class-A, LEED-certified life sciences building.

“The completion of the Taystee Lab Building is a milestone in the next chapter of Harlem’s rich history,” gov. Hochul said. “Anchoring the Manhattanville Factory District, the new state-of-the-art building will serve as the home for innovative companies developing the next generation of life science research and technology. As we continue to build back from the pandemic, today’s investments that support our life science infrastructure will ensure that we are better prepared, better equipped and more resilient in the future.”

Developed by the Janus Property Co. in partnership with JP Morgan Asset Management, the Taystee Lab Building is purpose-built for life sciences, commercial, innovative manufacturing, education and retail tenants, mirroring and adding to the diversity of the growing 125^th St. corridor. The new building is equipped with all necessary infrastructure for life sciences lab and innovation users to utilize above-standard high-
capacity power, high-velocity ducts, acid waste neutralization and tenant emergency power capacity.

The development also features 20,000 s/f of outdoor space and 20,000 s/f of retail space equipped with multiple black iron ducts to support several food and beverage amenity uses for tenants and neighbors alike.

Recognizing the importance of creating the infrastructure to support the growing life sciences industry in New York State, this project was identified as a priority project by the New York City Regional Economic Development Council and awarded a $10 million Empire State Development grant.

The Taystee Lab Building sits at the heart of the West Side’s energy, culture and charm along the 125^th St. corridor of Harlem and near the arts and entertainment district of the Apollo Theater, Studio Museum and the educational and research prowess of the world-renowned City College and Columbia University.

The Taystee Lab Building will serve as the anchor of the Janus Property Co.’s Manhattanville Factory District, a master-planned design of more than one million s/f across a mix of commercial and community uses in an expansive outdoor campus of greenways that has been featured in Architectural Digest. The Manhattanville Factory District includes a multi-building campus stretching from West 125^th St. to West 128^th St. and bridges Columbia University’s new Manhattanville campus and CUNY’s City College, with access to Mt. Sinai Morningside and Columbia University Medical Center. Five buildings comprising 700,000 rentable s/f are already complete, including the Sweets Building, the Malt House, and the Mink Building, which are already home to life sciences, arts, culture, commercial, and retail tenants—both for-profit and not-for-profit.

Empire State Development acting commissioner and president and CEO-designate Hope Knight said, “New York’s ongoing investment in the growing life sciences industry is critical towards advancing our public health and the statewide economy. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for resources to be manufactured here and the importance of building the necessary infrastructure across the state to prepare us for future crises. The Taystee Lab Building will not only add to the vibrancy of Harlem with economic opportunity and job creation, it will also build out our life sciences ecosystem that will continue to advance New York’s position as a leader in the life sciences industry.”

Principal of Janus Scott Metzner said, “West Harlem has become today’s premier destination for life sciences tenants in New York City. We appreciate the leadership and foresight of New York State and the governor in helping make this a reality. The Taystee Lab Building and our other projects in the District will continue to drive forward the concerted efforts of the city, state, businesses, not-for-profit and academic communities, along with the neighborhood, to grow New York’s dynamic uptown economy.”

Principal of Janus Jerry Salama said, “New York is a leader in available STEM talent. Taystee and the District as a whole offer life science and STEM leaders a singularly dynamic destination in a diverse interdisciplinary commercial area in Harlem’s West 125th Street arts and science corridor. There isn’t another life sciences space that offers a better creative energy or a better location to attract and retain top talent in New York City.”

Manhattan borough president Mark Levine said, “The Taystee Lab Building is a welcome addition to Manhattanville and an excellent revitalization of the former factory district. This mixed-use facility will contribute to breakthroughs in the life sciences, much-needed green space, and a more vibrant commercial life in the neighborhood, all made possible by the Empire State Development grant.”

Council member Gale Brewer said, “I congratulate Governor Kathy Hochul and the Empire State Development Corporation for their decisive support of the Taystee Lab Building that has been preserved and repurposed. I supported this project from its inception and am proud that this multi-purpose facility was built with union labor as well as community involvement, and that it achieves both high environmental standards and provides for state-of-the-art infrastructure for life sciences. Also, it is rare that a developer creates a masterplan for an urban mixed-use commercial district that is anchored by 20,000 s/f of open greenway space, and, in this case, is available to residents of Harlem as well as to the office tenants. The Janus Property Company deserves our profound gratitude for completing a remarkable project that will enhance the community, create life sciences jobs, and support locally based entrepreneurs in the retail spaces. I am delighted that Governor Hochul is highlighting and celebrating one of New York’s best developers and their lab building which is so important to the growing life sciences industry in New York State.”

New York City Regional Economic Development Council co-chairs Winston Fisher, partner at Fisher Brothers, and Félix Matos Rodríguez, CUNY chancellor, said, “The NYCREDC is proud to support the brand new Taystee Lab Building, which will be an important addition to the growing life science industry in New York City and the ongoing vibrancy of Harlem. Taystee Lab reimagines the spirit of the building’s history as a dynamic and purpose-built life science development that will invigorate the neighborhood, bring jobs to the area, and showcase Harlem as the in-demand place for top-tier life sciences talent.”

New York City Economic Development Corp.’s senior vice president of life sciences and healthcare, Susan Rosenthal said, “New York City Economic Development Corp. saw the opportunity to redevelop the former bread bakery and turn it into a place of innovation and job creation. More than a decade ago, we asked for proposals and selected developer Janus Property Co., and then sold them the property because NYCEDC knew they would transform the Taystee Lab Building and make it a game-changer for life sciences and the Manhattanville area. I want to thank the city, state and especially governor Hochul for their support and all involved who helped in getting this project across the finish line.”