New York’s 2020 Vision Focuses on Design-Build
As 2019 drew to a close, Governor Cuomo signed a bill on December 31st that had been passed by the New York State Legislature in June allowing certain New York City agencies to use the design-build project delivery system for construction projects.
New York has been slow to embrace the use of the design-build construction process, lagging behind states such as New Jersey and California. New York laws and regulations generally precluded the use of design-build except in limited circumstances where New York has provided specific statutory authorization. Interestingly, a few high-profile projects that had specific authorization to proceed with design-build (e.g., Tappan Zee/Mario Cuomo bridge, Kosciusko bridge and the Javits Center) seemed to have benefitted from the process. Building on those projects, New York is finally making strides towards allowing the design-build methodology as a widespread alternative to design-bid-build. Governor Cuomo and State lawmakers also announced that there was an agreement in place to pass a law during the 2020 legislative session that would extend to State and New York City governmental agencies the same ability to avail themselves of the design-build project delivery method. Agencies include the New York City: Department of Design and Construction; Department of Environmental Protection; Department of Transportation; Department of Parks and Recreation, Hospitals Corporation; School Construction Authority; and the Housing Authority.
Media Coverage appears below:
Major NYC construction projects can now be streamlined – Curbed, January 2, 2020
Cuomo signs design-build bill to speed up city construction projects – Crain’s New York Business, January 2, 2020
Zetlin & De Chiara LLP provides sophisticated legal and business counsel and advice to members of the construction community across the country including real estate owners and developers, design professionals, construction managers and contractors, and financial institutions. To learn more about our experience with design-build, click here.