The temporary home for BATWorks, a new climate innovation hub at the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, has officially opened. The facility will support climate technology companies through programming, piloting, and commercialization, while also providing workforce development and green job training for local residents. The permanent hub, currently under construction within Building A, is expected to open in 2028.
The temporary space will host programming immediately, including events for startups and Sunset Park residents, alongside initiatives aimed at fostering climate innovation. LACI will lead efforts such as the Climate Innovation Challenge, a cleantech debt fund, and Pilots at BAT, which allows companies to test technologies using real-world infrastructure. Early activity includes a pilot by KitSwitch, which recently delivered a modular kitchen system to the site. Applications for pilot programs have increased significantly, reflecting growing demand from climate tech startups.
Once completed, BATWorks is projected to become the largest green workforce training facility in New York City. Backed by a $100 million city investment, the hub will feature laboratories, prototyping areas, classrooms, and specialized equipment supporting sectors such as clean energy and building decarbonization. The project is expected to generate approximately 600 permanent jobs, support hundreds of startups, and produce an estimated $2.6 billion in economic impact over the next decade. Workforce training initiatives will be developed in partnership with City University of New York and New York University, linking academic research with industry applications.
The Brooklyn Army Terminal is accessible via the NYC Ferry at the Sunset Park/BAT stop, as well as nearby subway service at the 59th Street station, served by the N and R trains…