BIG’s 40th Precinct is a Big Upgrade for the NYPD in the Bronx

On November 20, the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the city's Department of Design and Construction (DDC) officially opened the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG)-designed 40th Precinct headquarters in the Bronx. The 45,000-square-foot building, located at 567 East 149th Street, is a striking addition to the Melrose neighborhood. But more than just an aesthetic upgrade, the new precinct aims to create greater cohesion between the police and the community while providing officers with a state-of-the-art home.

The $85-million project originated in 2014, when then-mayor Bill de Blasio earmarked nearly $70 million to replace the 40th’s 10,000-square-foot headquarters, built in 1923. Construction began in 2018, and it went online on November 18. The completed building includes administrative functions, training and physical fitness areas, storage for equipment and vehicles, and emergency response equipment like fuel tanks and generators. A green roof and high-efficiency fixtures and systems help to lessen the building’s environmental impact as it strives for LEED Gold certification. Elsewhere on the site, the DDC regraded and restored a portion of the block that was once a tow pound, adding trees and other greenery.