BPCA Announces Project Labor Agreement For $1.7 Billion Battery Park City Resiliency Project

A Turner-SPC Joint Venture has begun construction on the first project in New York City to feature Progressive Design-Build.

The Battery Park City Authority announced a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Building and Construction Trades Council (BCTC) for the $1.7 billion Battery Park City Resiliency Project (BPCR), the first project in New York City to use the progressive design-build model. The PLA will support thousands of union careers while expanding opportunities for participation by Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (SDVOB). In addition to securing cost-efficiency for the complex, multi-year project, the PLA will ensure family-sustaining wages, promote local hiring and expand career pathways to the middle class for youth, apprentices, women, and veterans. A joint venture team of Turner Construction Company and SPC Construction Co. LLC will deliver BPCR through a progressive design-build effort, further managing cost and risk in a transparent, flexible framework. 

BPCR will provide risk reduction to property, residents and assets within Battery Park City and beyond through the creation of an integrated coastal flood risk management system that runs from First Place, north along the Esplanade, across to the east side of West Street/Route 9A and terminating above Chambers Street at a high point on Greenwich Street. The project will break ground this fall. 

“As New York continues to invest in its green infrastructure through resiliency projects like The Battery Park City Project, we must make sure they create family-sustaining union careers for hardworking New Yorkers in the process,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “This is why PLAs, like the one signed today, are crucial, as they guarantee fair and livable wages, safe work environments, and more accessible pathways to the middle class for tradesmen and tradeswomen of all backgrounds through apprenticeships and fulfilling work opportunities. We applaud the Battery Park City Authority for signing this agreement, as our members look forward to getting started on this critical project that will enable lower Manhattan to respond to the demands of climate change.”

“This PLA furthers our commitment to deliver a newly resilient Battery Park City through good-paying union jobs while maximizing the project’s value and opening up workforce opportunities for key construction trades,” said Raju Mann, President & CEO, Battery Park City Authority. “The Battery Park City Project is a massive undertaking, and this agreement, coupled with our progressive-design build model, codifies that the work will be completed efficiently and to the highest standards. We are proud to partner with BCTC, Turner Construction Company and SPC Construction and look forward to getting shovels in the ground soon.” 

“Lower Manhattan knows what’s at stake when it comes to rising seas and extreme weather, and this Project Labor Agreement moves us one step closer to the resilient future our neighbors deserve,” said Councilmember Christopher Marte. “By pairing cutting-edge design with family-sustaining union jobs and real opportunities for local workers, this project shows that climate infrastructure can strengthen both our shorelines and our middle class. After years of organizing for smarter, faster coastal protection, I’m encouraged to see Battery Park City Authority advancing a model that keeps the community at the table, invests in MWBEs, and delivers the protections our neighborhoods have been demanding since Sandy. This is the kind of long-term, equitable resiliency planning we need across the entire waterfront.”

“Today’s Project Labor Agreement for the Battery Park City Resiliency Project sends a simple message: we can protect New Yorkers from climate risk while respecting their tax dollars and time,” said NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) Executive Director Elijah Hutchinson. “By reforming our capital processes, cutting unnecessary costs, and insisting on projects that are delivered on budget and ahead of schedule, the City and BPCA are demonstrating that climate resiliency can be both ambitious and efficient, a necessary combination if we are to deliver coastal protection in communities across New York City.”

“More than $7 billion in Project Labor Agreements is the kind of big, bold commitment New York needs right now, and continues to prove that building labor in New York City is a solid investment in our future,” said Carlo A. Scissura, President and CEO of the New York Building Congress. “This deal means faster projects, safer jobs, and fairer wages for the union trades who build our city every day. It opens the door for thousands of apprentices to earn and learn on real projects, from recreation centers and libraries to clean energy systems. This is how you grow middle-class careers, modernize critical infrastructure, and prove that public investment and union labor move New York forward together."

“This project exemplifies partnership and transparency,” said Charlie Whitney, Vice President, Turner Construction Company. “Through the progressive design-build model, all stakeholders were aligned from the very beginning to make informed, data-driven decisions that deliver value, efficiency, and long-term resilience. We are grateful to Raju Mann and the entire BPCA for having the foresight to use the Progressive Design Build model for this Project, allowing Turner, SPC Construction and all of our other partners to protect and strengthen one of New York City’s most iconic waterfronts.”

“The combined resources and partnership of our Project team – along with the engineering expertise of our parent company, FlatironDragados – create a powerful synergy of local knowledge with global capabilities,” said Joe Sheehan, Chief Operating Officer, SPC Construction. “We are extremely proud to work together with all of our partners on this critical project to deliver innovative, sustainable, and creative technical solutions that will safeguard the community and strengthen New York City for generations to come.”

“The Arcadis team has thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with BPCA, Turner and SPC Construction, multiple governmental agencies, and distinctive stakeholders to advance appealing, sustainable, cost-effective, and innovative design solutions for a resilient Battery Park City,” said Raúl Torres, Executive Vice President at Arcadis. “It is not often that you get such a tremendous opportunity to use a progressive design process to address the varying interests of so many engaged parties.”

“Major investments like the Battery Park City Project Resiliency Project demonstrate that climate resilience and economic protection go hand in hand," said Joseph Sutkowi, Chief Waterfront Design Officer at Waterfront Alliance. "We congratulate Battery Park City Authority on this PLA and applaud their commitment to M/WBE and SDVOB businesses, local hiring, good wages, and workforce development."

The PLA provides a mechanism to address the unique construction needs of BPCR, securing skilled and experienced local labor for the project with fair wages and strong MWBE and SDVOB participation. The PLA streamlines the construction process for the duration of the project, from scheduling and staffing to enabling electronic site access and preventing costly delays. It also promotes career opportunities for youth, apprentices, women and veterans to enter the trades and work on the project through programs such as Helmets to Hardhats and Construction Skills. 

Work on BPCR is proceeding through a progressive design-build effort, an innovative method where design and construction are under a single contract to maximize cost-efficiency. BPCR is the first progressive design-build effort in New York City and the first to be undertaken by a New York State authority. The progressive design-build model establishes a clear framework for the overall budget, guaranteed maximum price and schedule, providing cost certainty, reducing risk and allowing the team to move forward with an on-time, on-budget delivery. The process also promotes collaboration, seeking ongoing input from the community and relevant stakeholders, and enabling the team to respond to evolving design and environmental considerations while maintaining alignment on budget. 

Over the past four years, Turner-SPC and BPCA have worked closely with ARCADIS US, Inc., Bjarke Ingels Group, SCAPE Landscape Architecture and many other technical specialists and other partners to plan the project. This process included extensive community and stakeholder outreach to gather feedback on the design to ensure BPCR reflects the needs and the priorities of the neighborhood. 

In addition to providing risk reduction from coastal flooding, stormwater runoff and heavy rains, BPCR will also deliver the following benefits: 

Protection – new infrastructure will protect the area from 2.5 feet of projected sea level rise, help cool during heat events, and prevent ponding more than 1-foot deep during heavy rains.
Reduce Homeownership Costs – The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) removal of Battery Park City from the current flood zone will eliminate homeowners’ need to purchase flood insurance for federally-backed mortgagees.
Enhance Public Space – new design will create universal accessibility, remediate circulation pinch points, and increased and improved seating.
More Landscape – more than 30 percent increase in total planting coverage within the project area, including doubling the amount of greenery on Battery Park City’s South Esplanade. 
Increase Native Plantings – 85 percent native species coverage to support birds and pollinators with new planted areas that shorten existing gaps in habitat corridors.
Improve In-Water Habitats – approximately 1,200 linear feet of reconstructed bulkhead designed to provide environments that support marine life.

BPCR is the third large-scale resiliency infrastructure project undertaken by BPCA since Superstorm Sandy ravaged Lower Manhattan in 2012. Wagner Park, the centerpiece of the South Battery Park City Resiliency Project (SBPCR), reopened in July following a major reconstruction to defend Lower Manhattan against coastal flooding. The new universally accessible park includes a buried floodwall; a 63,000-gallon subterranean cistern for rainwater reuse; expansive lawns, gardens and pathways complete with native, salt-resistant plantings; and Pavilion with a rooftop garden and public restrooms. SBPCR advances the coastal flood risk management system from the Museum of Jewish Heritage across Wagner Park and Pier A Plaza, and along the northern border of the Battery, where it will be integrated with New York City’s Battery Coastal Resiliency. The BPC Ball Fields & Community Center Project, now complete, entails an 800-linear foot barrier system to protect the 80,000 square foot playing surface – used by some 50,000 local youth annually – as well as the adjacent community center, from the risks associated with storm surge and sea level rise. 

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About BPCA 

Established in 1968, The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority is a New York State Public Benefit Corporation charged with developing and maintaining a well-balanced, 92-acre community of commercial, residential, retail and open space, including more than 30 acres of public parks, on Manhattan’s Lower West Side. Through execution of its strategic plan, BPCA works daily toward being an inclusive community, a safe and climate resilient place, and a vibrant public space, all while demonstrating leadership for the future with a team dedicated to improving service and project delivery. For more info visit: bpca.ny.gov.

About Turner Construction Company 

Our vision is to be the highest value provider of construction services. We deliver our services on complex and challenging building projects of all types and sizes throughout North America and in 30 countries around the world. We seek to create a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable future for our people, clients, partners, and the planet. We have earned a reputation for integrity, working safely, and driving innovation. With a focus on creating an environment where people can be at their best, be authentic, and be treated with respect and dignity, the company is widely recognized as a great place to work. The firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF, an engineering-led global infrastructure solutions provider with leading positions in North America, Australia and Europe and a rapidly expanding presence in high-tech, energy transition and sustainable infrastructure markets. To learn more about Turner visit www.turnerconstruction.com.

About SPC Construction 

SPC Construction (SPC) is a dynamic new force in the heavy civil construction landscape, uniting the storied legacies and exceptional talent of Schiavone Construction Co. LLC, John P. Picone, Inc., and E.E. Cruz & Company, Inc. A subsidiary of FlatironDragados, this powerful integration of three industry-leading organizations creates a stronger, more versatile company.  FlatironDragados is part of the ACS Group, one of the world’s leading infrastructure companies.SPC brings together specialized expertise to deliver innovative solutions to complex challenges. Our work focuses on highly-competitive projects in multiple disciplines, predominantly with government agencies in and around the NY/NJ metropolitan area.

Our capabilities encompass a variety of skills in tunnels, mass transit, bridges and highways, foundations, marine work, resiliency, water treatment plants, hydraulic works, and complex transportation and geotechnical projects. With a legacy of experience and a steadfast commitment to client success, SPC Construction is positioned to tackle the region’s most complex infrastructure projects.