New York University, College of Arts and Science

Previously located on Washington Square, the move centralized the College’s home in closer proximity to other CAS facilities and the school’s other academic programs, facilitating greater collaboration amongst students and faculty. CAS had previously shared its home with other departments, but as the largest department on campus, this move establishes a standalone building at the heart of NYU’s campus.

Sharing the ground floor with the previously-renovated Bonomi Admissions Center made expansion of the cramped building lobby a challenge. A circulation study using specialized software provided the justification for a complete reconfiguration of the lobby to accommodate the peak flows of students at class change time. The expanded lobby includes a relocated set of elevators and the introduction of a new open stair that guides students to shared spaces on the second floor, choreographing a clear identity and visual presence from entry to upper levels.

The building at 25 West 4th Street was originally constructed in the 1880s for light industrial use, including as a factory to make Panama Hats. Renovating for modern pedagogy meant carefully assessing what to restore, replace, and adapt.

Adapting the building’s pre-existing framework for classrooms, meeting spaces, tutoring spaces, and innovative advising spaces, the building reshapes CAS’s approach to learning, serving as a true hub of collaboration and home for its student body.

Early charrettes with NYU’s Office of Sustainability set ambitious performance targets. Energy modeling informed envelope improvements, including insulated masonry walls and the replacement of inefficient windows. These interventions support the project’s pursuit of LEED Gold while avoiding the carbon impact of new construction.