In 2015, Novo Foundation and the women-led Goren Group announced an international design competition to redesign the Bayview Correctional Facility, transforming it from a place of imprisonment and injustice into a symbol of freedom and empowerment for women. The new space, dubbed “The Women’s Building” will rise as a “vertical neighborhood” intended to invite diverse organizations to envision and ignite a better world for women worldwide. After considering over 43 submissions from architects and designers all over the world, the committee selected Deborah Berke Partners as the winner this past July.
The process for redevelopment began last October, when state officials announced that the Goren Group and NoVo Foundation were to lead the redevelopment of the Bayview Facility into "The Women's Building." Chelsea’s notorious women’s prison, situated at 550 West 20th Street, was evacuated just days before Hurricane Sandy during which it was slammed with fourteen feet of water damage. Though the building was ultimately repaired, the prison never reopened due to high cost per prisoner.
Though not selected as a finalist, a submission by Curtis + Ginsberg Architects gives an idea of the impressive caliber of planning and exceptional potential the ultimate building will host. Dubbed “The Women’s Beacon,” their proposal features a new 16-story building alongside the prison, both to be covered by a translucent, perforated metal façade. The prison’s façade would also enable a display of artwork. Inside, the building would host layouts well-suited for public theaters, meeting rooms, open offices, a health center, and innovative community organizations.
Renderings of Berke’s vision have yet to be released, though a New York State Public Hearing in June noted that in addition to the redevelopment of the 8-story Bayview building, a new 16-story, 65,000-square-foot building will be constructed adjacent to the site. Upon completion, The Women’s Building will host 51,000 square feet of office space, 73,175 square feet of community facility space for galleries, events, a wellness center, a childcare facility, a health clinic, and 6,000 square feet of restaurant/café space, all for a grand total of 130,175 square feet. Construction is set to begin in 2017, and the developers estimate a grand opening in 2020.
Contributing Writer
Katy Cornell
Katy Cornell is a Long Island native with a passion for writing about real estate in the big city. She recently graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in English and is a frequent contributor to CityRealty's Market Insight and NYC real estate blog 6sqft.
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