City agencies have kicked off construction on a 21-story “tech hub” at 124 East 14th Street in Manhattan, just east of Union Square. Known officially as the Union Square Tech Training Center, the project is poised to accelerate the diversification of New York City’s technology sector through the provision of education facilities, vocational training, and on-site resources for local start-ups.
Designed by Davis Brody Bond, the building will comprise 254,000 square feet including a mix of affordable and market-rate office space for tech companies, in addition to retail and dining facilities managed by Urbanspace.
Renderings of the development show a structure with a glass-covered façade and a setback around the 17th floor. The building’s main massing is abutted by a slender section with double-height floors and colorful ceilings. The roof level appears to feature an outdoor terrace.
By co-locating workforce training organizations with start-ups and larger-scale tech companies, the building is designed to encourage collaboration and innovation. The center will also serve as a new home for Civic Hall, a non-profit agency that will manage the digital skills training center. Curriculum partners include Per Scholas, FEDCAP, CUNY, Mouse, and General Assembly. In sum, the project is envisioned as a means to develop a talent pipeline between New Yorkers, especially groups currently unrepresented in the tech sector, and the city’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.
“Tech is the future, and every New Yorker, regardless of economic background, should be empowered to take part in this exciting industry,” said Manhattan borough president Gale A. Brewer. “I’m thrilled to break ground on the Union Square Tech Training Center, which will help train the future tech mavens of our city.”
In a statement from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), the development of the Tech Training Center is anticipated to create over 600 construction jobs and an additional 550 permanent positions by 2020 once complete.
“The Union Square Tech Training Center provides new opportunities for New Yorkers to enter one of the city’s fastest-growing and most exciting sectors, and we’re pleased to celebrate this important milestone,” said NYCEDC president and CEO James Patchett. “Tech is an important part of the city’s future and the Tech Training Center at Union Square means that New Yorkers from all backgrounds can be a part of it.”
In addition to NYCEDC, the project team includes private entities RAL Development and Suffolk Construction.
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*construction
Just 24,000 jobs more would create Amazon HQ if it was happening, thanks for AOC and JVB for losing that!!!
would have increased housing costs
You can always build more to accommodate for rising housing costs.
Did you miss the article in the Real Deal earlier this week about Apple looking for up to 750,000 SF of office space in the city? Why give away $ when tech companies are already expanding their NYC footprints? From the Real Deal: The Cupertino, California-based tech company is looking around Manhattan for somewhere between 200,000 and 500,000 square feet for a new office, sources told The Real Deal. One source said the tech firm could take as much as 750,000 square feet.
Looks good. That colorful stack of two-story spaces will be in a lot of views from farther uptown, being at the foot of Irving Place/Lex.