MetroTech Center
Encyclopedia
MetroTech Center is a business and educational center in Downtown Brooklyn
, New York City
. Original occupants of this area include JPMorgan Chase, New York City Fire Department
Headquarters, Bear Stearns
, Keyspan Energy, now National Grid
, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
, and Polytechnic University, now Polytechnic Institute of NYU. Later tenants include the Ms. Foundation for Women
, El Diario La Prensa
, Robert Half International
, UniWorld Group
,and HeartShare Human Services of New York. The Marriott
Hotel at Brooklyn Bridge is located across Jay Street from the center.
MetroTech Center lies between Flatbush Avenue and Jay Street, north of the Fulton Street Mall
and south of the busy Tillary Street, close to Brooklyn's Civic center (Borough Hall, Courts) and Brooklyn Heights. Polytechnic University is one of MetroTech's founding members.
The MetroTech Business Improvement District (BID), a non-profit organization, provides sanitation, marketing, and events programming services to the area.
. At the center of this revitalization stood the MetroTech Center office complex, which is within walking distance of several other major development projects including Pierrepont Plaza, the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, Atlantic Terminal Mall
, and Renaissance Plaza. MetroTech stands as a symbol of Downtown Brooklyn’s rejuvenation.
In an effort to resuscitate Downtown Brooklyn a decade earlier, Polytechnic University President George Bugliarello had advanced the idea of creating a center for research and development modeled on the lines of “Silicon Valley
.” Several years later, the City agreed to designate Polytechnic as the urban renewal
sponsor, under the condition that forward movement of the project required obtaining a commitment from two tenants. Both the City and Polytechnic chose Forest City Enterprises
as the project’s main developer based on its years of experience, commitment to stay in the area, and financial capacity. Forest City Ratner and Borough President Howard Golden
represented the best aspects of public-private partnership and they quickly redefined the MetroTech vision from a research and development park to a campus centered back office
complex.
As Forest City negotiated with Morgan Stanley
, two other major corporate players were being wooed for the MetroTech site: the Securities Industry Automation Corporation
(SIAC) and Brooklyn Union Gas (BUG). The fact that the MetroTech site sat on a separate power grid from Manhattan proved to be the key for SIAC because this meant their operations in Downtown Brooklyn would be safe if Manhattan ever experienced a power failure (as seen in 1977). The final and greatest victory, which sealed the fate of the MetroTech vision first put forth by Polytechnic President Bugliarello, was convincing Chase Manhattan Bank
to move its back operations to MetroTech.
MetroTech was formed in 1992 by making a 16 acre (64,749.8 m²) rectangle (bounded by Jay Street, Johnson Street, Flatbush Avenue, and Myrtle Avenue) a Pedestrian zone, in connection with the erection of new office buildings and parking garages. As a consequence, the north ends of Lawrence and Duffield streets were also freed from motor traffic.
has its headquarters on the 18th floor of 1 MetroTech Center. El Diario La Prensa
, a newspaper of ImpreMedia, has its offices on the same floor.
The New York City Fire Department
has its headquarters in 9 MetroTech Center, which has eight stories and 360000 square foot of space.
TransCare Corporation
has its headquarters in 1 Metrotech Center
Downtown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Original occupants of this area include JPMorgan Chase, New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
Headquarters, Bear Stearns
Bear Stearns
The Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. based in New York City, was a global investment bank and securities trading and brokerage, until its sale to JPMorgan Chase in 2008 during the global financial crisis and recession...
, Keyspan Energy, now National Grid
National Grid plc
National Grid plc is a multinational electricity and gas utility company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Its principal activities are in the United Kingdom and northeastern United States and it is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world.National Grid is listed on...
, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a federation of 39 separate health insurance organizations and companies in the United States. Combined, they directly or indirectly provide health insurance to over 100 million Americans. The history of Blue Cross dates back to 1929, while the history of...
, and Polytechnic University, now Polytechnic Institute of NYU. Later tenants include the Ms. Foundation for Women
Ms. Foundation for Women
The Ms. Foundation for Women, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1973 by Gloria Steinem, Patricia Carbine, Letty Cottin Pogrebin and Marlo Thomas. Established at the height of the feminist movement, the Ms...
, El Diario La Prensa
El Diario La Prensa
El Diario la Prensa is the largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in New York City, and the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. Published by ImpreMedia, the paper covers local, national and international news with an emphasis on Latin America, as well as human-interest...
, Robert Half International
Robert Half International
Robert Half International , based in Menlo Park, California, is an American staffing firm, and a member of the S&P 500. Founded in 1948, Robert Half International is the world's first and largest accounting and finance staffing firm, with over 400 locations worldwide...
, UniWorld Group
UniWorld Group
UniWorld Group, Inc., a multicultural ad agency headquartered in New York with satellite offices in Detroit, Atlanta and Miami, is the longest-standing minority-owned ad agency in the U.S.-History:...
,and HeartShare Human Services of New York. The Marriott
Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc. is a worldwide operator and franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by son J.W. Marriott, Jr...
Hotel at Brooklyn Bridge is located across Jay Street from the center.
MetroTech Center lies between Flatbush Avenue and Jay Street, north of the Fulton Street Mall
Fulton Mall
Fulton Mall is a pedestrian street and transit mall in Downtown Brooklyn that runs on Fulton Street between Flatbush Avenue and Adams Street...
and south of the busy Tillary Street, close to Brooklyn's Civic center (Borough Hall, Courts) and Brooklyn Heights. Polytechnic University is one of MetroTech's founding members.
The MetroTech Business Improvement District (BID), a non-profit organization, provides sanitation, marketing, and events programming services to the area.
History
The decades of the 1980s and 1990s were a period of major large-scale development activity in Downtown BrooklynDowntown Brooklyn
Downtown Brooklyn is the third largest central business district in New York City , and is located in the northwestern section of the borough of Brooklyn...
. At the center of this revitalization stood the MetroTech Center office complex, which is within walking distance of several other major development projects including Pierrepont Plaza, the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, Atlantic Terminal Mall
Atlantic Terminal Mall
Atlantic Terminal is a shopping mall located on Atlantic Avenue surrounded by Hanson Place, Fort Greene Place and Flatbush Avenue in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn, New York....
, and Renaissance Plaza. MetroTech stands as a symbol of Downtown Brooklyn’s rejuvenation.
In an effort to resuscitate Downtown Brooklyn a decade earlier, Polytechnic University President George Bugliarello had advanced the idea of creating a center for research and development modeled on the lines of “Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
.” Several years later, the City agreed to designate Polytechnic as the urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
sponsor, under the condition that forward movement of the project required obtaining a commitment from two tenants. Both the City and Polytechnic chose Forest City Enterprises
Forest City Enterprises
Forest City Enterprises is a $9-billion diversified real estate management and development company based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Its portfolio includes interests in retail centers, apartment communities, office buildings and mixed-use projects in the U.S...
as the project’s main developer based on its years of experience, commitment to stay in the area, and financial capacity. Forest City Ratner and Borough President Howard Golden
Howard Golden
Howard Golden was the long-time Democratic borough president of Brooklyn serving from 1977 to December 31, 2001. Prior to becoming Brooklyn Borough President, Golden served as City Councilman for the Borough Park section of Brooklyn...
represented the best aspects of public-private partnership and they quickly redefined the MetroTech vision from a research and development park to a campus centered back office
Back office
A back office is a part of most corporations where tasks dedicated to running the company itself takes place. The term "Back office" comes from the building layout of early companies where the front office would contain the sales and other customer-facing staff and the back office would be those...
complex.
As Forest City negotiated with Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm headquartered in New York City serving a diversified group of corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. Morgan Stanley also operates in 36 countries around the world, with over 600 offices and a workforce of over 60,000....
, two other major corporate players were being wooed for the MetroTech site: the Securities Industry Automation Corporation
Securities Industry Automation Corporation
The Securities Industry Automation Corporation is a subsidiary of the NYSE Euronext. Its purpose is to provide technical services for the exchanges themselves, members and other financial institutions. In this role, SIAC provides the computers and other systems required to run the exchanges...
(SIAC) and Brooklyn Union Gas (BUG). The fact that the MetroTech site sat on a separate power grid from Manhattan proved to be the key for SIAC because this meant their operations in Downtown Brooklyn would be safe if Manhattan ever experienced a power failure (as seen in 1977). The final and greatest victory, which sealed the fate of the MetroTech vision first put forth by Polytechnic President Bugliarello, was convincing Chase Manhattan Bank
Chase Manhattan Bank
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., doing business as Chase, is a national bank that constitutes the consumer and commercial banking subsidiary of financial services firm JPMorgan Chase. The bank was known as Chase Manhattan Bank until it merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000...
to move its back operations to MetroTech.
MetroTech was formed in 1992 by making a 16 acre (64,749.8 m²) rectangle (bounded by Jay Street, Johnson Street, Flatbush Avenue, and Myrtle Avenue) a Pedestrian zone, in connection with the erection of new office buildings and parking garages. As a consequence, the north ends of Lawrence and Duffield streets were also freed from motor traffic.
Activities
MetroTech Commons, the 3.5 acres (14,164 m²) privately owned public space at the heart of the MetroTech complex, hosts events ranging from concerts and health fairs, to chess tournaments and holiday celebrations. Bounded by Lawrence and Duffield Streets, the square is frequently adorned by modern art exhibits. Two pieces called Alligator and Visionary are part of the Commons' permanent public art collection by the well-known sculptor Tom Otterness.Tenants
ImpreMediaImpreMedia
ImpreMedia, LLC is a media company headquartered on the 18th Floor of 1 MetroTech Center in Downtown Brooklyn, New York City.ImpreMedia is the leading Hispanic News and Information Company in the U.S. in Online and Print. -Newspapers:*La Opinión...
has its headquarters on the 18th floor of 1 MetroTech Center. El Diario La Prensa
El Diario La Prensa
El Diario la Prensa is the largest and oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in New York City, and the oldest Spanish-language daily in the United States. Published by ImpreMedia, the paper covers local, national and international news with an emphasis on Latin America, as well as human-interest...
, a newspaper of ImpreMedia, has its offices on the same floor.
The New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
has its headquarters in 9 MetroTech Center, which has eight stories and 360000 square foot of space.
TransCare Corporation
Transcare EMS
TransCare EMS provides Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support ambulance transportation services in the areas of New York City, the Hudson Valley, Long Island, the state of Delaware, the Baltimore-Washington DC corridor and in numerous locations in Pennsylvania. It is the largest privately...
has its headquarters in 1 Metrotech Center