Since the dramatic socio-political debacle of Columbia’s last attempted campus expansion in the 1960s, the university had increasingly substantial need for additional space to thrive, and a holistic, inspiring and enlightened vision and strategy to realize that expansion.

Particularly essential to the design was the notion of an urban university of the 21^st century, open to the city, and reinforcing the urbanity of West Harlem, preserving the history and contributing to—not undermining—the existing social fabric of the neighborhood.  The process involved years of efforts with the NYC Department of City Planning, and extensive engagement of community members and organizations.  In polar opposition to the gated ivory tower on a hill of McKim, Mead & White a few blocks south, the new campus was to become an integrated, urban campus—aesthetically, programmatically, socially—of benefit to town and gown.  The sensitive design approach culminated in the 2007 rezoning and the successful campus that followed.

We developed a concept of an “Urban Layer,” enshrining public activity, transparency, legibility, and complete access of the ground plane throughout the new campus.  University functions were elevated in masses floating above, with generous height, daylight, and views welcoming pedestrians into cafes, interactive exhibit spaces, a clinic, a climbing wall and many other programs.  This intention was codified in the masterplan zoning guidelines we developed, while maintaining aesthetic and technical flexibility. 

MEP base infrastructure, loading, and other support services were pushed below grade, also helping to free up the ground plane, and facilitating a highly efficient, maximum performance centralized plant. District-wide systems thinking allowed for economies of scale and offsets between buildings, creating a resilient and energy efficient campus.  The masterplan was awarded the highest level Platinum certification under LEED for Neighborhood Development, in a first for New York City, and a first for any higher education campus in the United States.

Upon completion of the masterplan phase, RPBW continued the collaboration with Columbia, and with Serge at the helm realized the first phase of the new campus, including the Jerome L. Greene Science Center, Lenfest Center for the Arts, The Forum, and the Small Square park.  The first phase constitutes a microcosm of the larger campus, immediately bestowing a cohesive sense of place and urbanity while housing the first functions, starting from the corner of 125^th Street and Broadway.  From there, following the masterplan design and sequence, the campus continues to grow northward to 133^rd Street and westward to Riverside.