SOM’s NYC Public Health Laboratory Building Tops Out at 40 West 137th Street in Harlem, Manhattan

Aerial rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street - Skidmore, Owings & MerrillAerial rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Construction has topped out at 40 West 137th Street, site of the new NYC Public Health Laboratory building in Harlem. The facility broke ground in 2022 and will create new facilities for specialized medical training, a 200-seat community auditorium, and the walk-in Harlem Express STI screening facility.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the ten-story building comprises roughly 240,000 square feet and is expected to achieve LEED Silver certification. Renderings of the property illustrate a stepped glass volume that slowly cantilevers out above a masonry-clad podium. A void between the two will include an outdoor podium with seating and planters.

“The Public Health Lab has a sterling history and present, in protecting New Yorkers from threats to their health,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “This state-of-the art facility now matches this incredible legacy with an even brighter future that promises innovation, ingenuity, and impact, that supports our amazing PHL staff who work so hard to keep our city safe, and that is in keeping with what New Yorkers deserve from their public health infrastructure.”

Placement of the final beam at the new NYC Public Health Laboratory in Harlem

Placement of the final beam at the new NYC Public Health Laboratory in Harlem

View of construction at the new NYC Public Health Laboratory in Harlem

View of construction at the new NYC Public Health Laboratory in Harlem

Rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Interior rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Interior rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Ground floor rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Ground floor rendering of the New York City Public Health Laboratory 40 West 137th Street – Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are overseeing completion of the project. Last year, the agencies secured $25 million from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to incorporate high-efficiency facilities throughout the property. This includes ultra-efficient laboratory equipment, solar photovoltaic panels on the building’s roof, chilled beams, and a cogeneration plant that will significantly curb annual utility costs.

The building is on track to be completed by the end of 2025 and ready for occupancy in 2026.

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3 Comments on "SOM’s NYC Public Health Laboratory Building Tops Out at 40 West 137th Street in Harlem, Manhattan"

  1. Great to see this!..and what exactly are “Chilled Beams”?

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