CHELSEA — The defunct Bayview Correctional Facility, a women's prison shuttered in 2013, is going to be transformed into a hub for women's rights and activism as part of an international design competition, the building's developers announced last week.
The developers behind the project — the NoVo Foundation and the Goren Group have ambitious plans of turning the state-owned, former prison at 550 W. 20th St. into a "Women's Building" — a locus for women's rights activism and advocacy with room for offices, an art gallery, a restaurant, community spaces and a health clinic.
Architects who apply for the design competition have to show how they plan on preserving the building's historic structure.
NoVo — a foundation that focuses on women's issues and the Goren Group — a women owned and operated developer and investment company - were selected selected by the state in October, following a request for proposals for the empty facility in May of 2014.
The state granted the developers a lease for up to 100 years and the rights to renovate the building.
The deadline to apply for the design competition is on Jan. 6 and the winner will be selected by June next year. For more information visit the Women's Building website.