New York City invests $100 million to create BATWorks, a climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal.
BATWorks aims to support 150 startups over ten years, projecting a $2.6 billion economic impact and over 600 green-collar jobs.
The hub will feature labs, prototyping facilities, and workforce training, focusing on Sunset Park residents.
Construction is set to begin this year, with a planned opening in 2028, as part of NYC’s Green Economy Action Plan.
New York City is investing $100 million to create “BATWorks,” a major climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, partnering with the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) and Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) to boost green-tech startups and jobs, as detailed in the official announcement. The project aims to transform a 200,000-square-foot space into an engine for climate solutions and economic growth.
Green-collar goals: BATWorks is set to back 150 startups over ten years, projecting a $2.6 billion economic impact and over 600 “green-collar” jobs. Beyond workspace, the hub will offer labs for R&D, prototyping facilities, and workforce training, with a focus on Sunset Park residents. Mayor Eric Adams described the initiative as part of a new chapter for NYC’s waterways, integral to his “Harbor of the Future” vision.
Coastal collaboration: LACI will bring its climate programming expertise, leading a “Pilots at BAT” program from January 2026 for companies to test technologies in a live urban environment—a first for LACI’s City Climate Innovation Challenge outside LA. Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), a global operator of innovation campuses, will design and manage BATWorks’ daily operations, including work and lab spaces.
Building Brooklyn’s future: The consortium also includes CUNY, NYU, and design firm Perkins and Will, which will shape the hub’s facilities. NYCEDC spokesperson Chelsea Sudaley told Smart Cities Dive that construction is slated to kick off this year, with BATWorks aiming for a 2028 debut. The redevelopment of the terminal’s historic Building A is central to the plan.
Also on the green scene: New York isn’t just focused on BATWorks; the city is also developing The New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island as a major research and education center. Meanwhile, other cities are making similar moves, with Seattle recently launching its own Climate Innovation Hub. NYC is also tackling emissions on other fronts, such as a new ‘microhub’ pilot to reduce truck delivery congestion.
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