An architectural rendering of the proposed 2 Church Street building that would be the final component of New Haven’s Downtown Crossing development project, which aims to reconnect downtown to the Hill section and the city’s medical district.
Courtesy of City of New Haven / Winstanley Enterprises
NEW HAVEN — City officials are preparing to move forward with a 200,000-square-foot laboratory and office building that would become the centerpiece of New Haven’s growing life sciences and quantum technology hub while completing the final phase of the Downtown Crossing redevelopment project.
The proposed development at 2 Church St. would become the home of the previously announced Unilever Global Innovation Center. Backed by millions of dollars in state funding, the project is the third and final phase of Downtown Crossing, the city’s long-running effort to replace the former Route 34 highway and reconnect downtown with the Hill neighborhood and medical district.
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The project’s development and land disposition agreements will go before the Board of Alders’ Community Development Committee during a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Board of Alders chamber at City Hall. If approved, the agreements will advance to the full Board of Alders for a vote.
“New Haven is one of fastest-growing hubs in the nation for the life sciences and quantum science, and the developments of 100 College Street, 101 College Street and 2 Church Street all demonstrate the growth of these industries in our city and underscore how New Haven is a center for cutting-edge research, development and innovation in these fields,” said Mayor Justin Elicker.
“Importantly, as we grow, we are committed to growing inclusively — and, just like the other buildings, 2 Church Street and the companies housed there will provide new job opportunities for our residents and also generate new tax revenue for the city that helps pay for critical municipal services that support our residents,” Elicker said. “It’s a really exciting time of economic growth and development for New Haven.”
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Downtown Crossing was created to repair the damage caused by urban renewal and the construction of Route 34, which demolished the Oak Street neighborhood and divided the Hill from downtown. The 2 Church St. project represents the final phase of that effort.
A map of the site of the proposed 2 Church Street building that would be the final component of New Haven’s Downtown Crossing development project, which aims to reconnect downtown to the Hill section and the city’s medical district.
Courtesy of City of New Haven / Winstanley Enterprises
For Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli, however, the project is about more than a single building. It’s about growing efforts like QuantumCT and BioCT to put Connecticut — and New Haven — on the cutting edge of quantum technology and biotechnology.
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Just as importantly, he said, “it reinforces and provides opportunities to connect New Haven residents to meaningful career opportunities at all levels.”
The state has committed about $37 million to support those broader efforts, with funding benefiting not only the city and development partner Winstanley Enterprises but also organizations including QuantumCT and BioCT, Piscitelli said.
QuantumCT is a public-private partnership that includes the University of Connecticut, Yale University, Southern Connecticut State University, ConnCORP, Connecticut Innovations and the state Department of Economic and Community Development.
The National Science Foundation announced Tuesday that QuantumCT will receive a two-year, $15 million award to support technology translation, workforce development and incubator operations. The award could grow to as much as $160 million over the next decade if the partnership demonstrates sufficient progress, according to the announcement.
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The developer, 2 Church St. LLC, is a subsidiary of Winstanley Enterprises, according to documents submitted to the Board of Alders.
The building would rise on a vacant 1.8-acre parcel that is part of a 4.5-acre site originally owned by the state and later transferred to the city for economic development. The property is bounded by College Street, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Church Street and South Frontage Road.
The city previously transferred an adjacent 1.75-acre parcel to Winstanley for construction of the nearby 497,762-square-foot 101 College Street laboratory and office building.
The city and Winstanley have secured commitments for $34.7 million in state funding for the 2 Church St. project and related infrastructure improvements, including the Church Street Promenade across South Frontage Road — a key element in reconnecting downtown with the Hill neighborhood — and a pedestrian Arc Bridge that would extend the promenade.
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“There’s some time sensitivity here,” Piscitelli said, citing global competition to develop quantum technologies.
The city hopes to transfer the property to Winstanley in 2027. After an estimated two-year construction period, the building is expected to open in 2029.
Gov. Ned Lamont and DECD awarded funding for the Quantum & Life Science Cluster in September 2025 to accelerate growth in industries including biotechnology, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and quantum technology.
According to the Board of Alders application, the New Haven initiative is intended to create jobs in the life sciences and quantum technology sectors while expanding opportunities for city residents. The project also includes a new public plaza, completion of roadway and tunnel improvements associated with Downtown Crossing, and space for business and institutional partners, including QuantumCT.
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A city flyer says the project would create career pathways for New Haven residents through local hiring, internships, workforce partnerships and training programs in quantum technology and life sciences in partnership with Southern Connecticut State University, Gateway Community College, Albertus Magnus College and QuantumCT.
The project also calls for expanded STEM opportunities for students, including an additional $200,000 for BioCity, support for the ACE mentoring program at Hillhouse High School and guaranteed program admission for qualifying students from the Hill, Downtown and Dwight neighborhoods.