Three Companies Selected to Compete for Contract to Manage Project at 70 Mulberry in Chinatown

DDC: Ian Michaels, 646-939-6514, michaelia@ddc.nyc.gov

(Long Island City, NY – July 29, 2025) Commissioner Thomas Foley of the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today that following a review of qualifications, the agency has selected three construction management firms that will respond to a Request for Proposal (RFP) to earn the right to manage the construction of the future 70 Mulberry Street in Chinatown. The project is being built using a contracting method called Construction Manager-Build (CM-Build), saving time during the procurement process, while also enhancing the overall quality of the project through early, streamlined coordination.

The RFP the three firms will respond to is expected to be issued by the end of July. The $160 million project is expected to start construction in early summer 2026 and is expected to be completed in 2029. DDC previously contracted with the design firm Grimshaw to complete the design. The location is the former home of the Museum of Chinese in America, and several other nonprofit groups, before it was gutted by fire in January 2020.

“DDC’s growing alternate delivery program of design-build and CM-Build is transforming the way the City builds,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley. “The community has been looking forward to this project ever since fire almost destroyed the building. By using CM-Build contracting we expect to accelerate the procurement process, compared to traditional lowest bidder contracting. CM-Build also vastly improves the way construction is handled, by allowing an earlier integration of the CM Build team for better coordination.”

Under CM-Build, a construction management firm is hired through an accelerated RFP process, manages the overall project and holds the underlying contracts for materials, labor and related services. CM-Build eliminates lengthy procurement processes, allows construction to begin earlier and ensures critical early collaboration between the designer and the builder, which is effectively prevented by the lowest bidder process.

DDC used CM-Build with great success during the COVID-19 pandemic when an emergency declaration led to the suspension of regular procurement and contracting rules. The agency built a 470-bed field hospital in Queens in 11 days, and three large COVID Centers of Excellence representing $117 million in construction in just seven months. Numerous testing and vaccination sites were built around the City in an average of seven days each.

The three construction management firms (in alphabetical order) are:

Consigli Construction Co., INC.
Gilbane Building Company
Hunter Roberts Construction Group – ZD Jasper (joint venture)

The three selected firms or joint ventures previously responded to a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) with Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) to act as the construction management-builder for this project, which will bring maximum value to the City while creating a superior project.

The City highly encourages participation by Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) and will set significant requirements for M/WBE participation in CM-Build contracts. To learn more about how eligible firms can become certified as an M/WBE, please visit Certify With the City.

More information about CM-Build, design-build and alternative delivery contracting opportunities at the NYC Department of Design and Construction is available at https://designbuild.ddcanywhere.nyc/.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $34 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.