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Where Halls of Ivy Meet Silicon Dreams, a New City Rises Where Halls of Ivy Meet Silicon Dreams, a New City Rises
(about 17 hours later)
To see higher education in New York City being transformed, you have only to pick your vantage point.To see higher education in New York City being transformed, you have only to pick your vantage point.
From the roof of a residential Columbia University high-rise on Riverside Drive, you can watch excavators digging into the earth and workers putting the finishing touches on two new Renzo Piano-designed buildings, the first phase of the school’s biggest expansion in more than a century.From the roof of a residential Columbia University high-rise on Riverside Drive, you can watch excavators digging into the earth and workers putting the finishing touches on two new Renzo Piano-designed buildings, the first phase of the school’s biggest expansion in more than a century.
From the tram to Roosevelt Island, you can take in the geometric glass structures serving as the backbone of Cornell’s new technology campus.From the tram to Roosevelt Island, you can take in the geometric glass structures serving as the backbone of Cornell’s new technology campus.
And from Downtown Brooklyn, you can watch the moribund former headquarters of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority being transformed into a sleek, applied science hub for New York University.And from Downtown Brooklyn, you can watch the moribund former headquarters of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority being transformed into a sleek, applied science hub for New York University.
As construction activity in New York City continues apace, what is happening at these three elite universities is unfolding on a scale with little, if any precedent, according to university presidents, economists and urban planners. And as it unfolds, it is remaking the urban and economic landscape.As construction activity in New York City continues apace, what is happening at these three elite universities is unfolding on a scale with little, if any precedent, according to university presidents, economists and urban planners. And as it unfolds, it is remaking the urban and economic landscape.
Within the next six months, three of the biggest academic building projects in years will be opened up to students, faculty and staff. Focusing on advanced technology and the sciences, these projects, together with others recently completed or in the planning stages, are aimed at helping the city lure and retain people to compete with places like Silicon Valley and Boston.Within the next six months, three of the biggest academic building projects in years will be opened up to students, faculty and staff. Focusing on advanced technology and the sciences, these projects, together with others recently completed or in the planning stages, are aimed at helping the city lure and retain people to compete with places like Silicon Valley and Boston.
The pace is frenetic: private and public universities have been spending a robust $2 billion a year in construction costs, according to the New York Building Congress. The Cornell and N.Y.U. initiatives alone could generate $33 billion in activity over the next three decades, according to the city’s Economic Development Corporation.The pace is frenetic: private and public universities have been spending a robust $2 billion a year in construction costs, according to the New York Building Congress. The Cornell and N.Y.U. initiatives alone could generate $33 billion in activity over the next three decades, according to the city’s Economic Development Corporation.
New York has plenty of company, of course, as universities worldwide, in hopes of imitating the success of Stanford, which has collected well over $1 billion in royalties as innovations linked to its campus made their way into the market, build or repurpose their own facilities. The University of Oregon announced in December a $1 billion initiative for a new science campus, financed in part by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike.New York has plenty of company, of course, as universities worldwide, in hopes of imitating the success of Stanford, which has collected well over $1 billion in royalties as innovations linked to its campus made their way into the market, build or repurpose their own facilities. The University of Oregon announced in December a $1 billion initiative for a new science campus, financed in part by Phil Knight, the founder of Nike.
“I think what you’re seeing is a culture change,” said Michael H. Schill, Oregon’s president, who founded N.Y.U.’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy more than a decade ago. “A lot of universities for which previously the words ‘applied sciences’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ were dirty words now are jostling with each other to get a piece of the game.”“I think what you’re seeing is a culture change,” said Michael H. Schill, Oregon’s president, who founded N.Y.U.’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy more than a decade ago. “A lot of universities for which previously the words ‘applied sciences’ and ‘entrepreneurship’ were dirty words now are jostling with each other to get a piece of the game.”
New York, though, has the advantage of its sheer number of potential recruiters and employers, and its proximity to the financial services industry, said John Tepper Marlin, a former chief economist for the New York City comptroller’s office.New York, though, has the advantage of its sheer number of potential recruiters and employers, and its proximity to the financial services industry, said John Tepper Marlin, a former chief economist for the New York City comptroller’s office.
In 1999, Mr. Marlin warned that the city and its educational institutions “lagged seriously behind Silicon Valley and the Boston/Route 128 area.” But aggressive rezoning under Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor, as well as his Applied Sciences NYC competition, an initiative to get top universities interested in starting new campuses in the city, altered the equation.In 1999, Mr. Marlin warned that the city and its educational institutions “lagged seriously behind Silicon Valley and the Boston/Route 128 area.” But aggressive rezoning under Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor, as well as his Applied Sciences NYC competition, an initiative to get top universities interested in starting new campuses in the city, altered the equation.
“New York City has always been a great market but we have always been a bit snobby about tech and about practical things, and that has hurt us,” he said. “But we are now catching up.”“New York City has always been a great market but we have always been a bit snobby about tech and about practical things, and that has hurt us,” he said. “But we are now catching up.”
Columbia’s 17-acre, $6.3 billion Manhattanville campus is scheduled to open in May on a former industrial site that once produced Studebaker automobiles and Sheffield Farms milk.Columbia’s 17-acre, $6.3 billion Manhattanville campus is scheduled to open in May on a former industrial site that once produced Studebaker automobiles and Sheffield Farms milk.
The two initial anchors, the Jerome L. Greene Science Center and the Lenfest Center for the Arts, will feature classrooms, laboratories for brain science research and other fields, and galleries and performance spaces, as well as a restaurant and a rock-climbing gym.The two initial anchors, the Jerome L. Greene Science Center and the Lenfest Center for the Arts, will feature classrooms, laboratories for brain science research and other fields, and galleries and performance spaces, as well as a restaurant and a rock-climbing gym.
While the project, which began in 2003, had to overcome strong neighborhood objections, community benefit agreements are expected to provide $150 million in housing and legal assistance, in addition to the local jobs and economic opportunity provided by the new campus. By 2021, when a new Columbia Business School sprouts in Manhattanville, roughly 2,400 people will work in an open, tree-lined campus intended to foster collaboration and spark ingenuity.While the project, which began in 2003, had to overcome strong neighborhood objections, community benefit agreements are expected to provide $150 million in housing and legal assistance, in addition to the local jobs and economic opportunity provided by the new campus. By 2021, when a new Columbia Business School sprouts in Manhattanville, roughly 2,400 people will work in an open, tree-lined campus intended to foster collaboration and spark ingenuity.
Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia’s president, acknowledged that on its main Morningside Heights campus, “there are a lot of laboratories that are substandard, and there are offices that really need work and conference rooms and laboratories that need to be renovated.”Lee C. Bollinger, Columbia’s president, acknowledged that on its main Morningside Heights campus, “there are a lot of laboratories that are substandard, and there are offices that really need work and conference rooms and laboratories that need to be renovated.”
But failing “to invest in the long-term,” he said, would mean that “Columbia would slide into a modest research university over time.” Moreover, “the new expansion creates a sense of excitement internally and among alumni, and that leads to gifts, which benefits the institution in full.”But failing “to invest in the long-term,” he said, would mean that “Columbia would slide into a modest research university over time.” Moreover, “the new expansion creates a sense of excitement internally and among alumni, and that leads to gifts, which benefits the institution in full.”
Opening this summer is Cornell’s 12-acre, $2 billion technology campus on Roosevelt Island, established in a partnership with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.Opening this summer is Cornell’s 12-acre, $2 billion technology campus on Roosevelt Island, established in a partnership with Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
Cornell won Mr. Bloomberg’s initial Applied Sciences NYC competition, in which the city offered $100 million in funds and the Roosevelt Island acreage. Soon, a four-story academic building will open, powered by its own rooftop photovoltaic installations and equipped with geothermal heating and cooling. Next door, companies and start-ups will work alongside Cornell researchers, who are now temporarily working out of the Google building, in Chelsea. Flanking these facilities will be a 26-story residence for Cornell personnel.Cornell won Mr. Bloomberg’s initial Applied Sciences NYC competition, in which the city offered $100 million in funds and the Roosevelt Island acreage. Soon, a four-story academic building will open, powered by its own rooftop photovoltaic installations and equipped with geothermal heating and cooling. Next door, companies and start-ups will work alongside Cornell researchers, who are now temporarily working out of the Google building, in Chelsea. Flanking these facilities will be a 26-story residence for Cornell personnel.
The campus has attracted university officials and international visitors, who want to see how academics can work alongside start-ups and established companies. Universities want to “push the envelope to have that unique advantage,” said Diana Allegretti, assistant director for design and construction, who previously had worked on both the N.Y.U. and Columbia projects.The campus has attracted university officials and international visitors, who want to see how academics can work alongside start-ups and established companies. Universities want to “push the envelope to have that unique advantage,” said Diana Allegretti, assistant director for design and construction, who previously had worked on both the N.Y.U. and Columbia projects.
Cornell’s incoming president, Martha E. Pollack, the provost at the University of Michigan, joined the campus project’s steering committee in 2014. So “she will be uniquely qualified to oversee the opening of the Roosevelt Island campus and to capitalize on the opportunity to make Cornell Tech a major new player in the life of New York City,” Hunter R. Rawlings III, the interim president, recently said.Cornell’s incoming president, Martha E. Pollack, the provost at the University of Michigan, joined the campus project’s steering committee in 2014. So “she will be uniquely qualified to oversee the opening of the Roosevelt Island campus and to capitalize on the opportunity to make Cornell Tech a major new player in the life of New York City,” Hunter R. Rawlings III, the interim president, recently said.
The third major project — to be unveiled in the fall — is N.Y.U.’s $350 million plan, part of an ambitious push into Brooklyn and beyond.The third major project — to be unveiled in the fall — is N.Y.U.’s $350 million plan, part of an ambitious push into Brooklyn and beyond.
With audio labs, virtual reality rooms and spaces for public exhibits and lectures, the project will add 1,100 new students and more than 40 faculty members by 2022. It also complements N.Y.U.’s Tandon School of Engineering across the street, formerly known as Polytechnic University.With audio labs, virtual reality rooms and spaces for public exhibits and lectures, the project will add 1,100 new students and more than 40 faculty members by 2022. It also complements N.Y.U.’s Tandon School of Engineering across the street, formerly known as Polytechnic University.
“We are not just Greenwich Village University. We are all over New York,” said Andrew Hamilton, N.Y.U.’s president. But “we are critically short of space.”“We are not just Greenwich Village University. We are all over New York,” said Andrew Hamilton, N.Y.U.’s president. But “we are critically short of space.”
The project was one component of N.Y.U’s roughly $830 million bond sale last June, the biggest by a private university since 2010. It is separate from a bigger and far more controversial $2 billion expansion plan into Greenwich Village, that has so far survived a court battle. The project was one component of N.Y.U’s roughly $830 million bond sale last June, the biggest by a private university since 2010. It is separate from a bigger and far more controversial $2 billion expansion plan into Greenwich Village that has so far survived a court battle.
These universities are not alone in expanding their New York City presence: Rockefeller University is extending its campus across the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive on the Upper East Side. The city is working with Carnegie Mellon University to bring a technology and arts program to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The City University of New York recently opened an Advanced Science Research Center dedicated to nanoscience, photonics, neuroscience and other disciplines.These universities are not alone in expanding their New York City presence: Rockefeller University is extending its campus across the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive on the Upper East Side. The city is working with Carnegie Mellon University to bring a technology and arts program to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The City University of New York recently opened an Advanced Science Research Center dedicated to nanoscience, photonics, neuroscience and other disciplines.
Mayor Bill de Blasio also pledged in December to invest $100 million for development of an applied life sciences campus on either the Upper East Side or Long Island City.Mayor Bill de Blasio also pledged in December to invest $100 million for development of an applied life sciences campus on either the Upper East Side or Long Island City.
A wild card, however, is government support, given President Trump’s plans to slash federal science and education spending. Intangible factors will also determine whether the projects meet expectations.A wild card, however, is government support, given President Trump’s plans to slash federal science and education spending. Intangible factors will also determine whether the projects meet expectations.
“Are the lights on late at night?” said Mr. Bollinger of Columbia. “Are people just smiling because they are in environments and buildings that they feel are incredibly special? I don’t know of any other projects in urban environments in the United States, or any place, of this scale, so I think this is really quite an experiment.”“Are the lights on late at night?” said Mr. Bollinger of Columbia. “Are people just smiling because they are in environments and buildings that they feel are incredibly special? I don’t know of any other projects in urban environments in the United States, or any place, of this scale, so I think this is really quite an experiment.”