Elevate Research Props. commences Iron Horse Labs project - 200,000 s/f

Manhattan, NY Elevate Research Properties, the life science subsidiary of Taconic Partners, has revealed plans for its latest project: Iron Horse Labs, a 200,000 s/f class A research lab on the Upper East Side. Iron Horse Labs will be a new lab space named after and located at the birth site of legendary baseball player, Lou Gehrig, who passed away from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in 1941. Gehrig earned the nickname “Iron Horse” given his record streak of consecutive games played. The project is part of a 1.4 million s/f life science development. The new research building will be located at 309 East 94^th St.

Iron Horse Labs will feature several architectural gestures towards the site’s history including its unique façade which will feature triangular passive sun shading elements which symbolize and resemble baseball stadium pennants. In addition, an exterior plaque denoting Gehrig’s birthplace will be restored, reinstalled, and featured in the new building lobby.

Iron Horse Labs’ inherent function as a cutting-edge research facility is itself a tribute to Gehrig and his continuing status as the face of a disease still in need of a cure.

The project, being developed with partners Nuveen Real Estate and Flatiron Equities, is located blocks from several major academic and medical institutions such as Rockefeller University, Weill Cornell, Mount Sinai, Memorial Sloan Kettering, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Hospital for Special Surgery. The project will pair location with features including lab infrastructure, double height specialty research space, multiple loading bays, several outdoor terraces, and amenities. The project will also feature energy efficient systems and a raised ground floor slab as part of Elevate’s overall portfolio commitment to ESG initiatives including sustainability and climate resiliency strategies. The project’s location, features, and size make it an attractive flagship opportunity for research organizations, academic medical institutions, or life science and healthcare investment firms looking to house portfolio companies and research programs under one roof.

Demolition and foundation work at the site has commenced and Elevate Research Properties expects to complete Iron Horse Labs in mid-to-late 2025.

“Elevate is excited to bring another world-class research development to the growing New York City market,” said Matthew Weir, president of Elevate Research Properties. “This particular project is especially unique given its rich history along with the rare combination of size, features, and location.”

“Nuveen is fortunate to be involved in this unique project alongside Elevate Research Properties and Flatiron Equities and we continue to have high conviction in the burgeoning life science market in New York City,” said Brian Wallick, director, asset management, office and life science at Nuveen.

“Our team is honored to work on this facility and knew from the onset that it holds great significance for the larger life science community” said Bill Harris, managing director at Perkins & Will. “A Native New Yorker himself, Lou Gehrig continues to be a symbol of determination and perseverance both for those battling the disease and for the many searching for cures. In designing Iron Horse Labs with Elevate Research Properties, we attempted to capture that spirit and reflect those contributions through aspects of the building’s design.”