New York University is located in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village, where it has had a presence since 1833. An urban institution since its inception, NYU has integrated itself into the fabric of the city and does not stand apart from its surroundings as does many schools with traditional campus. The university's buildings are a rich collection of architectural variety in style, period and scale, reflecting the urban context that the university has adopted as its campus. This wide-ranging collection of buildings includes early 19th century Greek Revival rowhouses, late 19th and early 20th century manufacturing buildings, pre- and post-war apartment buildings, and modern purpose-built academic and residential facilities. Many of the buildings have been acquired by NYU and adapted for university use. These buildings, through their architectural variety, reveal the neighborhood's historical layering.
With the generous assistance of the Getty Foundation's Campus Heritage Grant, New York University commissioned a study to better understand the University's building stock through a survey and analysis of use, construction materials and origins of the approximately 100 NYU buildings in the Washington Square area. The datasheets created for these buildings provide a valuable record of each site's history, including information such as original owners, uses and architects. Historical tax photos associated with each site provide a snapshot of existing buildings in the mid-20th century.
This documentation provides a valuable resource for members of NYU's internal and external community who want to know more about the history of NYU's presence in the Washington Square area and details about the individual buildings that NYU owns.