Stony Brook University and SOM Selected to Complete $700M Climate Research Campus on Governors Island

A project team led by Stony Brook University and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has been selected to complete a $700 million climate research and education campus on Governors Island. Stony Brook University will anchor the 400,000-square-foot campus, known formally as The Cen­ter for Cli­mate Solutions. The education and research hub will debut as New York Climate Exchange.

The New York Cli­mate Exchange will be the city’s first-ever public-private campus ded­i­cat­ed to research, edu­ca­tion, work­force train­ing, and pub­lic pro­grams focused on understanding and mitigating the damaging effects of climate change.

In addition to SOM, the design team includes MNLA, Buro Happold, and Langan Engineering.

“With today’s announcement, Governors Island’s role as a historic gateway to New York City enters a new chapter, as a place where ideas come to life and hopeful solutions to the climate crisis become reality,” said Clare Newman, president and CEO of Trust for Governors Island. “We are honored to select Stony Brook University and SOM’s New York Climate Exchange to anchor the Center for Climate Solutions here on Governors Island, creating a global hub for education, research, job training, and public engagement on climate solutions for cities, set within a campus that is itself a demonstration of the future of resilient and sustainable design.”

Waterfront rendering of the New York Climate Exchange – Courtesy of SOM

Rendering of the New York Climate Exchange – Courtesy of SOM

The design of the building weaves into the landscape of the island and features a cascading array of photovoltaic panels, a mass timber frame, and large voids to maximize a feeling of openness and circulation.

When complete, the building will be one of the first sites in the country to achieve True Zero Waste certification, meet 100 percent of its non-potable water demand with rainwater and treated wastewater, and run entirely on electricity generated on site.

“Our design for this new campus embodies the stewardship necessary to solve the climate crisis by weaving sinuous mass timber pavilions through the rolling landscape of the park and reusing the historic building fabric of Governors Island,” said SOM design partner Colin Koop. “Together, these spaces will cultivate advances in climate research and pilot new technologies that can be deployed across the city, and eventually the world.”

Education programs will include fel­low­ship and intern­ship oppor­tu­ni­ties, con­tin­u­ing edu­ca­tion, and a career path­ways for stu­dents interested in long term contributions to climate change initiatives. Additional education partners include Pratt Institute, Pace University, New York University, the City University of New York, SUNY Maritime College, Brookhaven National Labs, and IBM.

The workforce train­ing pro­grams will be administered by a mix of local orga­ni­za­tions that include Green City Force, New York City Employ­ment and Train­ing Coali­tion, Non­tra­di­tion­al Employ­ment for Women, and SolarOne, in addition to the New York State Build­ing Trades and Con­struc­tion Coun­cil.

Additional programming will include public events and exhibits, a climate tech incubator that will prioritize access to minor­i­ty and women-owned businesses, and a research and technology accelerator.

Con­struc­tion is expected to break ground in 2025. The first phase of the campus is scheduled to debut in 2028.

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