Politics & Government
New $700M Harlem Lab Building Officially Opened By Governor
Officials hailed the opening of the new Taystee Lab Building on 126th Street, the latest step in West Harlem's dramatic transformation.
HARLEM, NY — Officials celebrated the opening of West Harlem's sparkling new Taystee Lab Building on Tuesday, describing it as a milestone in the city's pandemic recovery and a symbol of Harlem's evolution.
Built on the former site of the Taystee bread bakery, the $700 million project by developers Janus Property Company broke ground in 2019 on West 126th Street between Amserdam and Morningside avenues.
The 11-story, 350,000-square-foot development includes life-science research facilities, commercial and retail space, and offices suitable for academic or artistic uses, according to developers.
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On Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul and a slew of other local officials cut a ribbon on the Taystee Building, announcing its completion nearly three years after the groundbreaking — and two years after its initially-promised 2020 opening.
"The completion of the Taystee Lab Building is a milestone in the next chapter of Harlem's rich history," Hochul said in a statement.
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"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."
The so-called Factory District being built by Janus spans the area between West 125th and West 128th streets on Amsterdam Avenue. Anchored by the Taystee building, it also includes the recently-completed Malt House and Mink Building — both of which are already home to science, arts, culture and retail tenants.
Once complete, the Factory District will also include a new pedestrian "greenway" running from West 125th to 128th streets, snaking through the old factory and brewery buildings, according to Janus.
Amenities in the Taystee building's life-science labs include high-capacity power, high-velocity ducts and acid waste neutralization, according to developers. Meanwhile, the building also includes 20,000 square feet of outdoor space and another 20,000-square-foot retail area.
Other officials who joined Tuesday's ribbon-cutting included Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin, State Sen. Cordell Cleare and Janus Principal Scott Metzner.
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