The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and the Partnership Fund for New York City have launched the Buildings Tech Lab (BTL), a public-private initiative aimed at finding innovative technology solutions to improve the DOB's work as the primary regulator of real estate and construction in the city.

The BTL will use the Partnership Fund's successful Innovation Labs model, which has been used in other sectors such as finance and transportation. The goal is to identify and test new technologies that can help the DOB streamline its processes and improve its efficiency.

The BTL will host an annual competition to solicit technology solutions for specific challenges identified by the DOB. The inaugural competition is focused on process management and data utilization.

Tech companies that are selected for the program will participate in an eight-week "proof of concept" phase, where they will work with the DOB to test their solutions and provide feedback. Successful companies may be invited to pilot their solutions on a larger scale.

The Buildings Tech Lab is a significant step forward in using technology to improve building regulation in New York City. It has the potential to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers.