New York, NY — The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), in collaboration with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), the Fire Department of New York (FDNY), and innovation hub Newlab, has announced the second annual cohort of the NYC Mass Timber Studio, a program aimed at bringing low-carbon, sustainable building practices into the city’s development pipeline.

Mass timber — a renewable alternative to steel and concrete — is gaining traction in New York City as architects, developers, and engineers look to cut carbon emissions while meeting the city’s ambitious climate goals.

The program offers:

• Direct grants to selected development teams
• Technical assistance from WoodWorks, a nonprofit focused on advancing wood construction
• Expert advisory support from DOB, FDNY, and the American Institute of Architects New York (AIA)
• Funding support from the USDA Forest Service and the Softwood Lumber Board

Seven Projects Selected for 2025

The 2025 Mass Timber Studio cohort features seven projects across all five boroughs, demonstrating the versatility of mass timber in residential, institutional, and public spaces:

1. New York Climate Exchange Climate Hub – Governors Island
   • Size: 140,000 square feet
   • Scheduled opening: 2029
   • Focus: A flagship climate research and education facility.
   • “We were so pleased to participate in the Mass Timber Studio’s second cohort,” said Andrew Winters, Director of Capital Projects, Planning, and Development at The New York Climate Exchange. “It added momentum to our project on Governors Island and demonstrated what’s possible when city agencies work together to advance new and sustainable technologies in the built environment.”
2. Stapleton B4/B5 Residential Development – Staten Island
   • Approximately 500 mixed-income housing units
   • Will be NYC’s largest mass timber residential project.
3. Soundview Recreation Center – Bronx
   • 45,000 square feet of new community and recreation space.
4. Ganeinu Academy Expansion – Queens
   • 20,000-square-foot addition designed with enhanced resiliency following Hurricane Ida.
5. 5 Timber Houses – Park Slope, Brooklyn
   • Passive House-certified homes with geothermal heating and cooling systems.
6. Shirley Chisholm Pavilion – Prospect Park, Brooklyn
   • Public pavilion named in honor of the trailblazing congresswoman.
7. Dockbuilders Pier Facility – Staten Island
   • Supports ferry operations and waterfront activity.

Why Mass Timber?

Mass timber is engineered for strength and fire resistance while offering significant environmental advantages. By storing carbon rather than emitting it during production, mass timber buildings can help cities move toward net-zero construction targets.

Advocates also note that mass timber construction is typically faster to assemble and produces less noise and disruption in dense urban settings.

NYC’s Push Toward Low-Carbon Building

The Mass Timber Studio is part of a larger strategy to decarbonize New York City’s construction sector, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. By partnering with regulatory agencies like DOB and FDNY early in the process, developers can better address safety codes, fire regulations, and zoning requirements unique to timber construction.

This cohort follows the program’s 2024 launch, which successfully introduced mass timber into a mix of cultural, commercial, and residential projects — proving its adaptability to diverse urban environments.

Originally reported by Max Gillespie in Newyork Yimby.