New York University has recently revealed the design of a new $1 billion development comprising a gym, a swimming pool, performance theaters, and classrooms at 181 Mercer Street. The 735,000-sf building will include a variety of academic facilities and be topped by faculty and student housing towers, TheRealDeal.com reports.
An all-glass façade allows people to see directly into the hallways and staircases that circle the perimeter of the structure. The building will be about 300 feet long and sit on what is dubbed a ‘super block.’
There will be 58 general-purpose classrooms and the largest theater will be able to seat 350 people. Additionally, the new building will house NYU’s first orchestral ensemble room. 7,500 sf of the project will be used for a public atrium and community events.
NYU is excited about the proposed building, but others have taken issue with it. Neighborhood activists worry that the building will be an eyesore and the land the project is designated for should instead be used for a park. Despite these protests, a court decision in 2015 gave the development the all clear to move forward.
Currently, the Coles Sports and Recreation building is in the process of being demolished to make room for the new building. This phase is expected to be completed in early February 2017. Excavation, which includes the removal of existing foundation, rock, and soil, will then begin and continue for about seven months. After that, foundation work will continue through late 2018. Enclosure of the building is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2020. Finally, interior construction and landscaping will take place, with the entire project scheduled for completion in late 2021.
Davis Brody Bond and KieranTimberlake are the architects for the project. Turner Construction Co. is the contractor.
Rendering courtesy of StudioAMD
Rendering courtesy of StudioAMD
Related Stories
University Buildings | Apr 11, 2023
Supersizing higher education: Tracking the rise of mega buildings on university campuses
Mega buildings on higher education campuses aren’t unusual. But what has been different lately is the sheer number of supersized projects that have been in the works over the last 12–15 months.
Contractors | Apr 10, 2023
What makes prefabrication work? Factors every construction project should consider
There are many factors requiring careful consideration when determining whether a project is a good fit for prefabrication. JE Dunn’s Brian Burkett breaks down the most important considerations.
Smart Buildings | Apr 7, 2023
Carnegie Mellon University's research on advanced building sensors provokes heated controversy
A research project to test next-generation building sensors at Carnegie Mellon University provoked intense debate over the privacy implications of widespread deployment of the devices in a new 90,000-sf building. The light-switch-size devices, capable of measuring 12 types of data including motion and sound, were mounted in more than 300 locations throughout the building.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
New tool from Perkins&Will will make public health data more accessible to designers and architects
Called PRECEDE, the dashboard is an open-source tool developed by Perkins&Will that draws on federal data to identify and assess community health priorities within the U.S. by location. The firm was recently awarded a $30,000 ASID Foundation Grant to enhance the tool.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
Design for belonging: An introduction to inclusive design
The foundation of modern, formalized inclusive design can be traced back to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The movement has developed beyond the simple rules outlined by ADA regulations resulting in features like mothers’ rooms, prayer rooms, and inclusive restrooms.
Sustainability | Apr 4, 2023
NIBS report: Decarbonizing the U.S. building sector will require massive, coordinated effort
Decarbonizing the building sector will require a massive, strategic, and coordinated effort by the public and private sectors, according to a report by the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS).
Education Facilities | Apr 3, 2023
Oklahoma’s Francis Tuttle Technology Center opens academic center for affordable education and training
Oklahoma’s Francis Tuttle Technology Center, which provides career-specific training to adults and high school students, has completed its Francis Tuttle Danforth Campus—a two-story, 155,000-sf academic building. The project aims to fill the growing community’s rising demand for affordable education and training.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 30, 2023
New University of St. Thomas sports arena will support school's move to Division I athletics
The University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minn., last year became the first Division III institution in the modern NCAA to transition directly to Division I. Plans for a new multipurpose sports arena on campus will support that move.
Healthcare Facilities | Mar 26, 2023
UC Davis Health opens new eye institute building for eye care, research, and training
UC Davis Health recently marked the opening of the new Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute Building and the expansion of the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC). Located in Sacramento, Calif., the Eye Center provides eye care, vision research, and training for specialists and investigators. With the new building, the Eye Center’s vision scientists can increase capacity for clinical trials by 50%.
Sponsored | Cladding and Facade Systems | Mar 15, 2023
Metal cladding trends and innovations
Metal cladding is on a growth trajectory globally. This is reflected in rising demand for rainscreen cladding and architectural metal coatings. This course covers the latest trends and innovations in the metal cladding market.
