New York University has opened a newly-constructed, 75,000 sq. ft. academic facility for teaching, learning, and research for NYU students and faculty in Washington DC, which will give students a chance to Study Abroad (or “Study Away,” in NYU parlance) in the nation’s capital.

NYU Opens Academic Center In Washington, DC
From the ribbon-cutting evening: NYU Trustees, Ronald Abramson, Martin Lipton, Constance Milstein and Catherine Reynolds with NYU President John Sexton

Washington, DC Now Added to NYU’s Global Network of Academic Sites in World’s “Idea Capitals”

New York University, the world’s first Global Network University, today officially opened a newly-constructed, 75,000 sq. ft. academic facility for teaching, learning, and research for NYU students and faculty in Washington DC, which will give NYU students a chance to Study Abroad (or “Study Away,” in NYU parlance) in the nation’s capital.  NYU President John Sexton and Board of Trustees Chair Martin Lipton officiated at the event, welcoming students, faculty, and donors.

With the opening of “Constance Milstein and Family Global Academic Center,” there are now 14 NYU-operated academic sites – both degree-granting research university campuses and Study Away sites -- in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and North and South America: an unequaled global network providing unmatched educational and research opportunities to NYU’s students and faculty in the world’s great national capitals, capitals of commerce, and capitals of ideas.

NYU President John Sexton said, “For NYU, the opening of NYU Washington DC is more than a recognition of the hundreds of NYU students who each year travel to Washington to pursue internships or study opportunities, more than an acknowledgement of widespread faculty research interests, more, even, than a linking America’s capital of government with its capital of commerce.  It is, really, an indispensible addition to NYU’s global network, one that will enable students and faculty from all our degree-granting campuses – New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai – to have the opportunity to study government, policy-making, and international relations and national security close-up and in real time.  Particularly for the growing number of non-U.S. students at NYU’s campuses, it presents an unrivaled opportunity to understand the United States, its government, and its national priorities and values.

“None of this would have been possible without the generosity of many people who understand the idea of NYU’s global network, and recognize not only how it benefits our students but the model it offers for how to change the architecture of universities in the 21st century.

Constance Milstein, Principal and Co-founder of Ogden CAP Properties, LLC, and Ronald Abramson, a shareholder in the firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, were the project’s major donors; Ms. Milstein made the lead gift of $10 million towards the construction, and Mr. Abramson donated the land for NYU Washington DC, valued at $5 million.  Mr. Sexton said, “On behalf of the entire NYU community, I thank Connie Milstein and Ron Abramson for their wonderful gifts, as well as the many other alumni and friends who supported NYU Washington DC.  Their philanthropy and their belief in us are potent validations of the global academic network NYU is building.”

Attendees at the ribbon-cutting included businesswoman and philanthropist Catherine B. Reynolds – who also generously contributed $1.5 million to the new facility -- Nationals owner Mark Lerner, journalist and NYU alum Ray Suarez, and former House Democratic Whip David Bonior.

NYU’s Washington DC site – which is located at 1307 L Street, NW -- will ultimately house 120 students per semester enrolled in courses or pursuing internships, and provide living and work space for faculty who are teaching and conducting research.  The building includes state-of-the-art classrooms, dorm rooms, faculty offices and residential space, research space, and a 140-seat auditorium.  Curricular offerings will focus on government, politics, public administration, and journalism, among other fields.

Washington is home to one of the largest concentrations of NYU alumni/ae.  In addition to its academic mission, the facility will serve as a center for meetings and activities for local alumni/ae.

The facility was designed for NYU by Hickok Cole Architects; the general contractor was the Sigal Corporation.  Construction of the building commenced in December 2010 and finished this month.  The University is applying for LEED Silver Certification for the building.

NYU’s unmatched global network creates a circulatory system that allows student and faculty to move seamlessly between campuses and Study Away sites in pursuit of their degrees and their research.  The network has three degree-granting liberal arts and sciences research university campuses – its historic campus in New York City’s Greenwich Village neighborhood, NYU Abu Dhabi, and NYU Shanghai (which opens in fall 2013).  In addition, NYU has 10 Study Away sites in major cities throughout the world in addition to Washington, DC: Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Sydney, and Tel Aviv.

NYU is one of the largest private universities in the U.S., and a member of the selective Association of American Universities, which represents research universities.  According to the Institute of International Education, NYU sends more students to Study Aboard than any other US college or university, and is home to one of the largest group of international students and scholars in the US.  And according to the College Board, there are more on-line searches by international students for “NYU” than any other university.


NYU President John Sexton with Bruce Reed (Joe Biden's COS) and Constance Milstein


Washington, DC Now Added to NYU’s Global Network of Academic Sites in World’s “Idea Capitals”

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