CURRENT PROJECT
58 Washington Square South - Center for Academic and Spiritual Life
NYU and the Archdiocese of New York have completed the long-discussed sale of the site of the former NYU Catholic Center. The site, on Washington Square South and Thompson Street, will be home to NYU's Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, which will include spaces for religious observance, offices for NYU's Chaplains' Circle, classes, music rehearsals, and conferences, and will include space for an ongoing Catholic presence. The creation of this Center will provide a communal home for our students' religious and spiritual lives, as well as furnish us with additional academic space in our core area.
The project began in fall 2009 and is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2012.
Project Overview
The project architect is Machado and Silvetti Associates, LLC, a leading architecture and urban design firm known for distinctive spaces and unique works of architecture in the United States and abroad. As proposed, the structure will forego some 18,000 sq ft that could have been constructed as-of-right, and will be five stories shorter than it could have been as-of-right. In choosing to forego an as-of-right approach and shorten the building's height, the University will seek a variance through the City's Board of Standards and Appeals to modify lot coverage and front and height setback requirements. And, in keeping with NYU's sustainability efforts, the Green Action Plan, the Center will be constructed to LEED Silver standards.
These decisions are very much in keeping with the principles embraced in NYU's 2031 planning process and in our discourse with the local community.
Main Phases
The project is scheduled in four phases:
- The first phase will be excavation and pouring of the new foundation.
- The second phase will be the installation of steel and construction of the exterior shell of the building.
- The third phase will be the build out of the interior floors.
- The fourth phase will be completing the final touches to the building such as painting and installation of flooring and fixtures.
The project is currently in the second phase.