Due to legislation sponsored by New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky and signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, Westchester County for the first time will be able to utilize the Design-Build model of delivery for four of its public works projects.
The legislation was introduced at the request of Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and is the first time this streamlined model will be implemented in Westchester County. In 2019, seven New York City agencies received Design-Build authorization through the Public Works Investment Act (PWIA).
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “The County Executive and County Board requested state legislation to jumpstart and ultimately complete crucial projects faster, saving taxpayers money. I was happy to sponsor this bill in the Senate, and I thank my colleague Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky for her collaboration and Governor Hochul for her support. This is another example of intergovernmental cooperation that will result in a win for Westchester taxpayers.”
Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “I have always been focused on helping Westchester County maintain and upgrade its critical infrastructure. Now, our Design-Build law will enable the County to keep four of its major buildings in good repair most cost effectively. Getting this work done more quickly and for less money makes efficient use of County resources, to the benefit of our taxpayers.”
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said, “Thanks to the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky, Westchester County now has the tools we need to deliver major capital projects faster, smarter and more cost-effectively. Design-Build will allow us to modernize key public safety and public health facilities while reducing disruptions and saving taxpayer dollars.”
Authorized under Stewart-Cousins and Shimsky’s “County of Westchester Public Works Investment Act” (Ch. 573 of 2025) are the:
- Westchester County Labs and Research Building, 10 Dana Road, Valhalla
- Westchester County Department of Public Works Maintenance Facility, Hammond House Road, Valhalla
- Westchester County Emergency Services Building, 4 Dana Road, Valhalla
- Westchester County Public Safety Building, 1 Saw Mill River Road, Hawthorne
Under the conventional Design-Bid-Build model, the “Design” and “Build” components of a project are barred from collaboration, resulting in slower schedules and increased costs for final completed projects. The Design-Build model consolidates these components into one point of responsibility, enabling design and construction teams to deliver projects of similar quality at greater time and cost savings.
