A Perfect Circle: NYU-Poly Opens Its Doors at 2 MetroTech Center

“In many ways this ribbon cutting fulfills a dream that began 30 years ago with Forest City Ratner and George Bugliarello,” said Jerry Hultin, President of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University (NYU-Poly), at a festive ribbon cutting ceremony held at 2 MetroTech Center on January 20. 

The new space, located on the south side of the MetroTech Center Commons, which President Hultin dubbed “Innovation Square” now that the Institute holds a post on its every side, features a dedicated NYU-Poly lobby, the backdrop for the event, with a wall-sized graphic of the Brooklyn Bridge created completely from computer code, a nod to the building’s new tenants. 

The spirit in the room was one of momentum, as the standing room only crowd celebrated the latest achievement in NYU-Poly’s campus transformation. 

“This is a moment,” said NYU President John Sexton, “but only the latest one [in a continuing series],” referring to the recent, rapid expansion at NYU-Poly and the many exciting plans for further expansion in the coming months and years. 

The 85,000 square feet of leased space at 2 MetroTech Center, split among three floors, is part of both NYU’s NYU 2031: NYU in NYC city-wide plan for academic space development and NYU-Poly’s capital plan, called the i²e (invention, innovation and entrepreneurship) Campus Transformation. 2 MetroTech is the new hub of NYU-Poly’s entire Computer Science and Engineering department and a portion of the Electrical and Computer Engineering department, which moved onto the 10th floor in mid-January.  

Much like the incredible real estate deal NYU-Poly negotiated at 15 MetroTech for 35,000 square feet of furnished office space, the leased space at 2 MetroTech is a fantastic deal which includes approximately $1 million in office, workstation and conference room furnishings.

Mirroring the integration of research in the lives of NYU-Poly’s faculty, the pantry/ break room on the 10th floor contains a wall of windows looking into the data monitor room, a lab run by NYU-Poly faculty members Claudio Silva and Juliana Friere, dedicated to data analysis and visualization. Faculty offices, computational labs, workstations for post-docs, two conference rooms, an office suite for department advisors and administrators, and a lounge fill the remainder of the 50,000 square feet.

NYU-Poly’s space on the building’s 9th floor, which will include additional research space, faculty offices, and large-capacity classrooms, is currently under development.

President Hultin, who officiated at the ribbon cutting, was joined by NYU President John Sexton. Also in attendance were Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, New York State Senator Daniel Squadron, New York City Councilmember Gale Brewer, New York City Councilmember Stephen Levin, Forest City Ratner CEO and Chair Bruce Ratner, National Grid for New York President Kenneth Daly, and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership President Tucker Reed. Many members of the faculty and staff of the CSE and ECE departments joined in the celebration of the new space, as did members of NYU-Poly’s Capital Transformation Steering Committee and the project team, including project architects Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners LLP, owner’s representative Jonathan Rose Companies, and construction management firm Turner Construction Company.

Flutes of sparkling water and wine shimmered throughout the room before President Hultin and President Sexton cut the ribbon and toasted the accomplishment. 

“This is the latest installment in what is turning out to be a wonderful story about technology in Downtown Brooklyn,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, perfectly capturing the spirit of the occassion.