Quicksilver Biosciences, a venture capital-backed biotech startup based in the Manhattanville Factory District in West Harlem, expanded at the Mink Building into a larger private lab suite. Quicksilver is but one of the many innovation-driven tenants located in the District. It is developing a versatile CMOS-integrated biosensor platform for rapid genomic identification as it aims to achieve target sensitivities exceeding current state-of-the-art methodologies, while doing so in a portable form-factor and at a reduced cost.
One of very few mixed-use zones in New York, the master-planned District continues to grow into New York’s best located and most beautiful cluster of life science and tech users, along with a myriad of arts and culture, for profit, not-for-profit and retail users. City College of New York recently announced it will be locating its 37,000 rsf City Innovation Collaborative here. The District is a pedestrian-driven neighborhood of more than one million rsf of state-of-the-art purpose-built commercial and life sciences space, stretching over four acres from West 125th to West 128th Streets at Amsterdam Avenue.
Unlike other similar campuses, it is ungated and integrated into its neighborhood, where it is nestled between Columbia University and the City College of New York with adjacencies to the nearby New York Structural Biology Center and the Columbia University Medical Center campus. It is conveniently served by the A, B, C, D and #1 trains, numerous bus lines, the 125th Street MetroNorth station, West Side Highway and the Hudson River Greenway bike path. A major amenity of the District is the extensive array of public and private outdoor spaces, which were recently featured in Architectural Digest magazine. The Mink Building is located at 1361 Amsterdam Avenue and West 126th Street on the western boundary of the Manhattanville Factory District.
“We always enjoy watching and helping our tenants grow,” said Scott Metzner, President of the Janus Property Company, the developer of the Factory District, “but it is especially gratifying when they grow with us. One of the many advantages of leasing in the Factory District for early-stage companies is that we allow them the flexibility to move around the campus without penalty as their needs change. This is something we’ve successfully accomplished with numerous tenants over time.”
“Janus has worked with us for well over a year, reviewing many different options with us as our needs and budget have come into focus,” added Erik Young, Chief Scientist at Quicksilver Biosciences. “We looked at many options, including options as far away as New Jersey. The Mink Building and Factory
District afforded us the efficiencies of growing in place and ultimately checked all of our boxes. It’s a pleasure to work with Janus.”
About the Janus Property Company
The Janus Property Company is a developer, long-term owner and manager of life science, commercial, mixed-use and residential properties in New York City, with a current primary focus on the creative redevelopment of the Manhattanville Factory District in West Harlem. Since 1989, Janus has consistently undertaken important and complex community development projects, creating enduring value for its tenants, partners, lenders and the greater New York City community. It specializes in understanding the numerous issues involved in developing and managing real property in New York. This has resulted in an impressive array of successful projects ranging from the extensive rehabilitation and new construction of market rate and affordable rental and condominium housing to mixed-use projects, small and large-scale life science properties and master-planned neighborhood development. Janus is headquartered in the Manhattanville Factory District.
