An Italian spa with outdoor thermal pools will open on Governors Island this summer

A luxury European day spa will open on Governors Island this summer. From the same group behind Italy’s QC Terme Spa & Resorts, QC NY features outdoor thermal pools facing the Manhattan skyline, relaxation rooms, steam rooms and saunas, and a wellness-focused cafe. An official opening date has not been released but is expected to be announced soon.

The day spa will take up three landmarked buildings that were formerly used as military barracks and have since been renovated and restored. Landscaped grounds and the outdoor pools will surround the three spa buildings, which will take up more than 75,000 square feet.

QC NY will feature 20 water-focused “wellness experiences,” including a Vichy shower and a panoramic pool overlooking the New York Harbor. There will be “hanging rattan chairs” in the relaxation rooms, as well as saunas and steam baths.

The QC NY on Governors Island will be the first location outside of Europe. QC Terme Spas and Resorts was founded in 1982 by brothers Saverio and Andrea Quadrio Curzio, who were both inspired by the history of ancient Roman baths.

“QC NYC is the escape and pampering that New Yorkers have been waiting for,” Janine DiGioacchino, CEO of QC US, said in a press release. “After years of planning, restoration, and building, we are so proud to bring this enchanting oasis to the city. We truly believe this opening couldn’t come at a better time. Now, more than ever, we all need and deserve mental and physical self-care and our guests can fully relax and restore.”

The spa is just one part of a decade-long plan to transform Governors Island into a year-round community. When QC NY opens this year, it will become the Island’s first year-round commercial tenant.

Plans to bring a resort to Governors Island were first revealed in 2015, with the Landmarks Preservation Commission approving the application from Quadratec and The Colonnade Group in 2015, as Curbed NY reported at the time.

A rezoning of Governors Island is nearing approval following a vote by the City Council’s land use committee earlier this month. The rezoning calls for about 4 million square feet of development across 33 acres and will likely include a new climate change research center, in addition to mixed-use buildings and office space.

While a federal deed restricts residential development on Governors Island, student dorms and hotels would be permitted. Earned revenue generated through the rezoning will go toward Governors Island maintenance, property management, transit, utilities, and infrastructure, as 6sqft previously reported.

Governors Island reopened for the season on May 1. The 172-acre site is offering a “pre-pandemic season calendar,” with six full months of art exhibitions and programs available through October 31, unlike last year, which had a shortened season because of the pandemic.

RELATED: 

• Governors Island reopens May 1 with new ferry stops and art exhibits
• Reclaim the Roaring 20s this summer at the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island
• Governors Island gains its first year-round home for the arts

All renderings courtesy of QC NY