On October 24, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul attended the opening of the Joyce F. Brown Academic Building at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in Manhattan. The $188.5 million project is FIT’s first new academic building in nearly 50 years. The building is located on West 28th Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues. It will serve students and faculty in art, design, fashion, business, and technology programs.
Governor Hochul spoke about the building’s importance for FIT and New York’s fashion sector. The building was designed by SHoP Architects. It has a glass façade and covers more than 100,000 square feet over ten stories. The facility includes 26 energy-efficient classrooms and studios, administrative offices, and a large knitting and weaving lab. There is also a 20-foot-high student commons area for collaboration.
The project focused on environmental sustainability and is seeking LEED Gold certification. The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York managed the project, which was completed in August 2025. New York State provided over $94 million in funding…