Building project

1. Why is The New School building the University Center?

    
• Over the past decade, The New School has transformed itself into a leading degree-granting university with a focus on interdisciplinary programs. Our model of education requires a state-of-the-art space for all students. The University Center will provide a dynamic new urban focal point for interdisciplinary learning, student life, and public programming and performance.

2. When is the University Center scheduled to open?

    
• The University Center residences will open to students in fall 2013. The academic, public, and performance spaces will open in January 2014.

3. Who are the architects?

    
• The University Center was designed by award-winning Skidmore, Owings and Merrill architect Roger Duffy, FAIA, whose work includes major buildings at Brown University, Deerfield Academy, and David Ben Gurion International Airport. 

4. Is this a "green" building?

    
• The University Center will be one of Manhattan's most sustainable skyscrapers, with a projected LEED Gold Rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. To learn more about the building's green features, visit the University Center Sustainability page. 

5. Who designed the garden on the seventh-floor roof?

    
• The seventh-floor garden was designed by internationally renowned landscape architecture firm Mathews Nielsen. 

6. What's with the idea behind those stairs?

    
• Designed to foster community inside and outside the building, the University Center's staircases are one of the project's most novel elements. Each exposed staircase sits atop a hidden fire staircase, allowing two kinds of movement through the building: The exposed stairs encourage chance meetings, while the hidden ones provide direct floor-to-floor access. Learn more at the Architect's Newspaper. 

Academic

7. When will the University Center be opened for classes?

    
• Academic and performance spaces will open in January 2014.

8. Which divisions' classes will be held here?

    
• The University Center is a resource for all New School students, and every division will have courses in and access to the building.

9. How many classrooms are in the University Center?

    
• The University Center will hold 58 instructional spaces, including seminar rooms, studio spaces, lecture halls, and rooms equipped with state-of-the-art distance learning technology.

10. Will the existing library on 13th Street be relocated or combined with the facility in the University Center?

     
• No, the University Center library is a new addition to The New School libraries and not a replacement. 

11. Will The New School vacate existing academic spaces when the University Center opens?

     
• Yes, some programs and classes will leave rental spaces once the University Center is complete. 

Event Spaces

12. What is the capacity of the main auditorium in the University Center?

     
• The main auditorium can seat 800.

13. Is the main auditorium seating fixed or flexible?

     
• The seating is flexible; back seats can be removed and the upper seating area can be converted into two classrooms.

14. Is the rooftop garden accessible?

     
• The Seventh Floor Green Roof will not be accessible.

15. Will the University Center feature any commissioned art projects?

     
• In the tradition of works like the Orozco Murals at 66 West 12th Street and Kara Walker's Event Horizon in Arnhold Hall, The New School has commissioned American artist Glenn Ligon to create his first permanent site-specific work in New York City for its new University Center. Read the official announcement of the commission for detailed information on Ligon and his work.

16. Will the University Center have a cafeteria?

     
• The University Center will have three dining areas: a 280-seat cafeteria on the second floor, an 80-seat library café on the seventh floor, and a 60-seat event café on the first basement outside the auditorium entrance.

Administrative and security

17. What offices will be housed in the University Center?

     
• The University Center will be entirely devoted to student use. The few offices planned for the building are reserved for departments that deal directly with students, such as Student Services and Career Services.

18. How many restrooms are on each floor?

     
• Each academic level has two restrooms, many of which are all-gender; each residential suite has its own restroom and private shower.

19. Will there be turnstile ID entry?

     
• The academic section of the building will be accessible through turnstile ID entry, like the entrance to the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center. The residences will have a separate entrance, which will also require ID. Security guards will be present at both entrances.

Student Residences

20. Where will the student residences be in the University Center?

     
• Floors 8 through 16 will house the student residences.

21. When will the residences open?

     
• Fall semester, 2013.

22. Which students will be housed in the residences?

     
• 146 two-, three-, four-, five-, and six-bed suites.

23. How many students will live in the residence?

     
• The residences will house 611 students.

24. Will the University Center residences replace any existing New School housing?

     
• When the University Center residences open in fall 2013, The New School will end its use of the student residences on William Street, which the university rents.

Do you have a question that is not listed above? Please share it with Sam Biederman, Associate Director of University Communications, at biederms@newschool.edu.