New Haven Independent

Yale’s plan for a biomedical research building at 260 Whitney Ave. was one of three university projects that snagged unanimous approval from the city zoning board at a meeting Tuesday night. Plans for the three projects, including renovations to the university art gallery and Yale Bowl, were revealed in elaborate models and drawings in a basement hearing room of the Hall of Records.

Of the three, the bio building would be the biggest change to the cityscape. It would rise in what is now a large surface parking lot to the side of Yale’s Science Hill, near where Humphrey Street hits Whitney Avenue. The proposed, 180,0000-square-foot building would provide much-needed relief for students and faculty in the biomedical sciences now squeezed into other facilities, said Yale Associate Vice-President Mike Morand.

As he presented the plans before the Board of Zoning Appeals, Morand recalled the last time Yale pitched a plan for a lab building in the same spot, in 2005. The project drew criticism for being “too massive” and not blending with the rest of Whitney Avenue, Morand said. Not-so-happy neighbors showed up, poised to testify, when Yale withdrew the project from the BZA.

Yale scrapped its old plans and hired a local firm, Pelli Clark Pelli, to come up with a new design.

When Yale unveiled its new plans Tuesday, only one man showed up with concerns about the project — a Yale employee named Zane, worried about losing his parking spot. (It turned out his spot wouldn’t be built on after all.)

Mariko Masuoka (pictured at the top of story), a principal in the firm, revealed plans for a building that she said would link to nearby lab space, reduce traffic on Whitney Avenue, and employ cutting-edge green building techniques. It needs BZA approval because the plans would exceed the gross floor area allowed for the lot size.

The building would be five stories, with one underground level of lab support and parking, three stories of lab space above ground, then a fourth-floor “mechanical penthouse” with required vents, as well as some greenhouses on the southern side. The building would shoot for gold LEED certification, Masuoka said. Green features include collecting rainwater to be used for toilets. The building would sit right next to the Peabody, with an entrance on Whitney and a bridge connecting it to the Kline Biology Tower.

Morand said the project would create 230 construction jobs. Research done there would fuel the biotechnology corridor in Science Park and perhaps even cure some diseases. Taking a more proactive approach this time around, Morand said Yale held two well-attended neighborhood meetings, where there was applause — yes, applause! — from neighbors for the plans.

Even though most New Haveners won’t get to use the building, Morand said the project would be an improvement to the cityscape: “There’s no worse use for urban property than surface parking.”

As for those lost parking spots? They’ve already been accounted for: Yale’s new structured parking garage by the Whale skating rink has enough capacity to hold those disappearing surface spots, he said. And with new parking spots to fit 19 buses, school buses visiting the Peabody won’t have to idle in the city streets, he said.

The plan was approved with three conditions: that it be sent to City Plan Commission for review; that it be built as shown on its site plan; and that the design incorporate a bike route through the site.

Yale Art Gallery, Phase 2

After transforming the Kahn building back to its original, light-filled form, drawing thousands of visitors to town, Yale’s moving ahead with phase 2 of renovations on the Yale University Art Gallery.

The YUAG, on Chapel Street, is free and open to the public, Morand was proud to remind the board. Annual visitors tripled to 140,000 in the year after the Kahn building was renovated, he said. Now Yale is moving forward with renovations to the so-called Swartwout building, the “old” Art Gallery, at the corner of High and Chapel Streets.

To bring buildings up to code and better join adjacent buildings, Yale seeks to raise a roof on the old wing and add an elevator shaft. The new addition would barely peek over the existing frontage on Chapel Street. (Pictured above is a sketch of how it would look from Chapel Street).

Renovations will provide a net increase of public gallery space, Morand said.

“I think it will be a plus not only to Yale but also to New Haven,” said BZA Chair Cathy Weber, noting a number of kids who’d relished artistic exploration at the newly renovated gallery. The plan was approved with two conditions: that the addition be built according to submitted plans, and that it go through site plan review before the City Plan Commission.

The Yale Bowl

Over in Westville at 165 Central Ave., Yale plans to fix up the press box at the Yale Bowl, adding a new alumni schmoozing area, elevator access, and better facilities for visiting sports teams. Zoning approval was sought because of the building height, but the height change won’t be dramatic. The bulk of the three-story renovation will be lower than Yale’s existing press box. Not a single Eli rival showed up to boo this plan.

“Again, Yale did a wonderful job” in presenting the plans, said Weber. All three projects gained approval by a 5-0 vote.