Profile

University Plaza,
New York University

New York, New York
Completed 1967

30-story residential complex comprising two towers for NYU graduate students / faculty, one middle-income co-op apartment tower, public sculpture court and parking
 

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This three-tower project was undertaken to relieve NYU's housing shortage in its transition from commuter college to residential university. The city transferred the urban renewal site to the university provided that one third be reserved for Mitchell-Lama moderate-income cooperatives.

The sheer size of the 534-apartment project precluded integration with low-rise Greenwich Village, and thus tall, slender shafts were designed in counterpoint. Each has a pinwheel plan with solid sheer walls and skeletal grids extending out from a central core to break the tower masses into smaller, vertical elements. Interiors vary, but externally the towers are identical, unified by architectural concrete that was poured in-place in reusable fiberglass forms to yield the greatest possibilities within the very low budget mandated. The resultant grids identify the "spatial packages" inside, the depth of a standard apartment defined by the sheer walls' 22-foot expanse.

At ground level the towers are directional. NYU's two buildings lead onto a landscaped plaza while the co-ops open onto their own mews. Orientation notwithstanding, the towers collectively define a central urban space dominated by a sand-blasted concrete bust of Sylvette — Picasso's second major public work in the United States and the first of its kind in the western hemisphere. The sculpture's installation at NYU (atop the project's underground garage) serves the public, art and education alike.

Major Components

Three 275' high towers containing studios, 1-4 bedroom apartments; NYU towers (2): each 145,700 s/f net apartment space on 29 floors + 55,000 s/f underground parking for 90 cars; Co-op tower (1): 145,700 s/f net apartment space on 29 floors + 2,000 s/f professional offices, and 25,000 s/f underground parking for 90 cars; landscaped private mews and public plaza; 60-ton, 36-foot-high sand-blasted concrete sculpture by Picasso

Awards

I. M. Pei & Associates services

Complete Architectural Services

Structural

Farkas and Barron, New York, NY

Mechanical / Electrical

Farkas and Barron, New York, NY

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