SOM: university center at the new school nears completion

SOM: university center at the new school nears completion
image © scott norsworthy

located at the intersection of 14th street and 5th avenue in manhattan, the multipurpose facility by SOM is intended to become the organizing hub of the new school. the projected LEED gold building, the first of its kind in manhattan, will provide space for all aspects of a traditional campus albeit with an urban color. a tectonic composition of muntz metal tiles are interrupted only to reveal hives of activity that are traced along the façade with ribbons of glazing. the alpha-beta brass skin seamlessly weaves the insitutional building into new york’s beautifully gritty streetscape.

interactive spaces are dispersed vertically throughout the section to activate all levels of the building; however, the building is organized to promote the healthy usage of stairs. levels are tied together with three angled fire stairs that are unraveled to weave their way through the building while providing ample opportunities for chance encounters and unstructured conversation. an extra 200,000 square feet of academic space on the first seven floors and 150,000 square feet for a 600-bed dormitory on the levels above are slated to accommodate an extensive academic program that includes 19 fashion studios, 17 drawing studios, 12 classrooms, and 7 science labs. the result is an architecture whose identity is completely intertwined with the university’s distinct urban site. in between these interactive zones are long, loft-style spaces which house 50,000 square feet of design studios, classrooms, and computing labs that can be renovated or reconfigured with no impact on power, data, or lighting.

the new center integrates with the urban formal language while providing a welcome tectonic distinction
image © scott norsworthy

the promotion healthy stair usage is further emphasized by the ribbons of glazing that artfully fracture the muntz metal facade
image © scott norsworthy