The New Liberty Innovation Center

Jersey City, New Jersey
Liberty Innovation Center Project

The significant shift of growth in the biotechnology, life science, and healthcare industry is putting pressure on developers to create new spaces that accommodate research innovation and advancement. Most commercial office buildings aren’t designed with the infrastructure and structural systems this industry needs, but through adaptive reuse of existing properties like the old toothpaste factory at 95 Greene Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, we can upgrade facilities to exceed the needs of this burgeoning industry with assets like the new Liberty Innovation Center.

A Strategic Partnership with SJP Properties

Our partnership with SJP Properties focused on rehabilitating the existing building to create the new Liberty Innovation Center at 95 Greene Street. The design intentionally attracts biotech startups, life science researchers, and healthcare innovators. Jersey City’s proximity to New York and its metropolitan area’s pool of talent and significantly lower rents make it an ideal location for companies of all types. Plus, the building’s history as a factory means that its existing infrastructure is ideal to meet the heightened requirements of this tenant type.

Floors will be more open, have the capacity to handle heavier loads, and are easily configurable for different types of tenants—it has what you’d call “good bones.” SJP recognized all of this and called on us to help them activate the building’s potential like we’ve done for projects like the Phase V renovations of the Brooklyn Army Terminal, the transformation of 541 West 21st Street, and the renovation of 125 West 25th Street which also became home to Peloton’s First Headquarters.

Upgrading 95 Greene Street

The adaptive reuse design of the 338,000-square-foot facility strips the building down to its skeleton to create open areas for flexible build-outs that meet the varied, yet specific, needs of techies, researchers, and scientists. The renovation encompasses exterior and interior improvements to the building, including upgrading mechanical systems and technology capabilities. Overall, we pushed design in a distinct direction for this project target SJP’s ideal tenants. Exterior improvements included refreshing the building’s façade, modifying the street condition with new walkways and greenery, and integrating new exterior elements like canopies and signage to welcome occupants to a sleek, redesigned lobby.

Transforming the Interiors into the new Liberty Innovation Center

Inside, high ceilings and large windows help each floor to feel open and inviting for the modern workforce. The L-shaped configuration of the floor plates allow tenants to build out a variety of configurations, from labs and research areas to open workspace and offices with conferencing and collaborative lounges, to meet their needs.

Helping Attract Top-Tier Tenants & Sale Price

Our work furthers SJP’s goals of identifying target markets for the property and communicating its benefits to them. We tell the story of the Liberty Innovation Center through marketing packages and predesign options showcased in new renderings and test-fits for a variety of tenant types, including research, life sciences, and technology tenants, as well as other professional and creative services. Following our work to transform the building, SJP Properties sold 95 Greene Street to Thor Equities.