august 2025
Celebrating a Major Milestone for New York’s Food Infrastructure
Following years of planning and development, Governor Kathy Hochul, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and other community leaders gathered on June 18 alongside GrowNYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen to cut the ribbon on the organization’s new Food Distribution Facility and Corporate Headquarters in Hunts Point, Bronx. Designed by bld architecture, the state-of-the-art facility advances GrowNYC’s mission of sustainability and food equity while reinforcing the community’s critical food infrastructure. This new hub plays a vital role in strengthening the region’s food supply chain—supporting New York State farms and expanding access to fresh, affordable produce across all five boroughs.
bld architecture recently completed the 75,000 GSF sustainable cold storage distribution center for GrowNYC. The $35 million facility supports the Greenmarket Company’s mission to connect local farmers with NYC communities by providing large-scale refrigerated storage and loading docks for fresh produce. Designed to LEED standards, the building incorporates rooftop rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic energy, daylighting, electric vehicle charging, and a waste-to-water bio-digester. Originally scheduled for completion in 2024, the facility was delivered in 2025 and now serves as a model for sustainable, community-focused food infrastructure.
Fighting Food Insecurity
Across New York City
“The New York State Regional Food Hub is a game-changer for families and farmers across New York… From the streets of the Bronx to the farms of Batavia, the Empire State has so much to offer. That’s why we invested in this massive GrowNYC facility to expand access to fresh, local food while creating new economic opportunities for our agricultural producers,” said Governor Hochul.
bld is honored to have collaborated with Aurora Contractors (Builder), Andron Construction (Interiors), and the engineering teams at Key Civil, A&M, RTE, AKRF, JSA, and Cor-Srvs on this prominent and impactful new community hub.
This milestone reflects our continued commitment to designing spaces that advance equity, sustainability, and community resilience.
“First-of-Its-Kind Facility Will Increase Food Distribution by 600 Percent, Creating Jobs and Supporting Local Agriculture.”
– New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets